Heterogeneous Catalysis for Thermochemical Conversion
Our mission is to transform thermal biomass deconstruction products (syngas and pyrolysis oil) into the fuels and chemicals that keep society moving forward.
Design and Synthesis
Our innovative synthesis techniques have led to the discovery of new catalytic materials, including diverse nanoparticle architectures.
Characterization
We characterize the physical and chemical properties of solid catalysts with emphasis on active site functionality using state-of-the-art techniques.
Testing and Scale-Up
Our evaluation of catalyst performance in reactors at multiple scales identifies top-performing materials and informs the design and operation of pilot plants.
Computational Studies
We use first-principles-based reaction energetics coupled with kinetic models to predict catalyst performance under realistic reaction conditions.
Research Team
Principal Investigators
Kim Magrini
Catalysis and Thermochemical Sciences Group Manager, Principal Scientist
Kurt Van Allsburg
Patrick Coan
Martin Menart
Mary O'Connor
Sarah Paleg
Allison Robinson
Alex Stanton
Vanessa Witte
Mengze Xu
Mayank Behl, Intel Corporation
Glen Ferguson
Ming Pan, BASF
Related and Integrated Programs
Chemical and Materials Science
Collaborators
Argonne National Laboratory
Colorado School of Mines
Georgia Institute of Technology
Johnson Matthey
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Kansas
University of Michigan
University of Southern California
Funding for this program is provided by the Bioenergy Technologies Office, a division of DOE's EERE Office, as well as NREL's Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program. We are grateful for their ongoing support.