Electron Microscopy and XAS Studies of Novel Catalysts Based on Amorphous Materials
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
This project will specifically be focusing on the study of novel amorphous catalysts prepared by supercritical antisolvent precipitation. Compared to crystalline materials, the structural details of amorphous materials, and their role in catalytic reactions are more challenging to study. The imaging, diffraction and spectroscopic capabilities of EM and XAS provide a range of techniques to extract critical information on these amorphous materials, such as elemental distribution, bonding information, oxidation state, pair distribution functions and possible short- to mid-range ordering. XAS and EM will provide complementary information: XAS provides detailed volume averaged information on the catalysts, while EM, with its higher spatial resolution, provides more localised information. In addition, both EM and XAS can be applied in an in-situ manner allowing us to dynamically follow the microstructural evolution of these amorphous materials under actual reaction conditions.
Daniel Hewes will be developing and applying such electron microscopy and XAS techniques to study several disordered mixed oxide catalyst systems prepared by other team members (Tak Bere and Jack Pitchers) under a larger project funded by Total. The specific mixed oxide systems to be studied during the course of the project are CeZrOx, FeMoOx and AlSiOx. In each case, the structural data acquired on these systems will be correlated with their catalyst performance characteristics. Such studies will bring new insights into how disordered catalysts operate and provide opportunities for developing better mixed oxide catalyst formulations.
Daniel Hewes will be developing and applying such electron microscopy and XAS techniques to study several disordered mixed oxide catalyst systems prepared by other team members (Tak Bere and Jack Pitchers) under a larger project funded by Total. The specific mixed oxide systems to be studied during the course of the project are CeZrOx, FeMoOx and AlSiOx. In each case, the structural data acquired on these systems will be correlated with their catalyst performance characteristics. Such studies will bring new insights into how disordered catalysts operate and provide opportunities for developing better mixed oxide catalyst formulations.
Planned Impact
Catalysis is crucially important to the UK economy, with products and services reliant on catalytic processes amounting to 21% of GDP and 15% of all exports. The UK is scientifically strong and internationally recognised in the field, but the science base is fragmented and becoming increasingly specialised. The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Catalysis will overcome these problems by acting as beacon for excellent postgraduate training in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering with a programme that will develop an advanced knowledge base of traditional and emerging catalysis disciplines, understanding of industry and global contexts, and research and professional skills tailored to the needs of the catalysis researcher.
Although the chemical sector is an immensely successful and important part of the overall UK economy, this sector is not the only end-user of catalysis. Through its training and its research portfolio the Centre will, therefore, impact on a broad range of technologies, processes and markets. It will:
(a) provide UK industry with the underpinning science and the personnel from which to develop and commercially leverage innovative future technologies for the global marketplace;
(b) allow the UK to maintain its position as a world leader in the high-technology area of catalysis and reactor engineering;
(c) consolidate and establish the UK as the centre for catalysis expertise.
Likewise, society will benefit from the human and intellectual resource that the Centre will supply. The skills and technologies that will be developed within the Centre will be highly applicable to the fields of sustainable manufacture, efficient and clean energy generation, and the protection of the environment through the clean-up of air and water - allowing some of the biggest societal challenges to be addressed.
Although the chemical sector is an immensely successful and important part of the overall UK economy, this sector is not the only end-user of catalysis. Through its training and its research portfolio the Centre will, therefore, impact on a broad range of technologies, processes and markets. It will:
(a) provide UK industry with the underpinning science and the personnel from which to develop and commercially leverage innovative future technologies for the global marketplace;
(b) allow the UK to maintain its position as a world leader in the high-technology area of catalysis and reactor engineering;
(c) consolidate and establish the UK as the centre for catalysis expertise.
Likewise, society will benefit from the human and intellectual resource that the Centre will supply. The skills and technologies that will be developed within the Centre will be highly applicable to the fields of sustainable manufacture, efficient and clean energy generation, and the protection of the environment through the clean-up of air and water - allowing some of the biggest societal challenges to be addressed.
