Studying active sites, adsorbed species and charge transfer in model systems for heterogeneous catalysis

Heteregeneous catalysts; systems where the phase of the catalysts differ from that of reactants. They make up 35 % of the world’s GNP and hence of tremendous significance.

In the next four years we will build nanoscale atomic and molecular systems to further push the research frontier in systems for energy conversion with the aim to;Manufacture a model “Lego-system” by nanoimprinting, and thin-film deposition, that will provide a versatile platform to study catalysts and their support in different phases and combinations.

The model system will correspond to the common components in real catalyst/support systemsUse scanning probe microscopy to study the adapted model system comprising metal and metal oxide catalysts in combination with carbon support (pristine or doped/defective graphene) to get insight in charge transfer, charge injection and conductivity coupled to spatially high resolution measurementsUse in-situ Raman spectroscopy high-resolution mapping in an electrochemical cell to reveal active sites and the development, and formation of active sites and reaction intermediates in suitably designed model systems.Use a flora of other techniques, including traditional electrochemical techniques, electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and theoretical modelling to complement the above methods to reveal further information on reaction kinetics, reaction mechanisms, and catalytic activity coupled to structural and theoretical modelling data.