Application of Ultrafast Lasers to Probe and Manipulate Surface Catalysis
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Abstract
This project will facilitate the development of a collaboration between the ultrafast laser dynamics group at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) with the heterogeneous catalysis group working at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) and Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich in Switzerland. By applying the laser expertise of the QUB group to the catalytic methods of the PSI-ETH group in a number of novel feasibility studies, this project will explore the potential future role for femtosecond laser technology over a range timescales as a either a diagnostic of or a participant in catalytic reactions. A better understanding of catalysis reactions is needed to improve the efficiency of current industrial processes and in developing new energy sources for the future.
Planned Impact
Catalysis is the key technology in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It is also highly relevant for the production of clean energy and environmental protection. The worldwide demand for catalysts is anticipated to increase by 6.3% per annum to $16.5 billion in 2012. Ammonia synthesis which is required for global food production, for example accounts for 1% of the global use of energy. This project will develop understanding of catalytic reactivity which is extremely important for the production of novel and/or the improvement of existing catalytic systems.
Publications
Calegari F
(2015)
Ultrafast Charge Dynamics in an Amino Acid Induced by Attosecond Pulses
in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Calegari F
(2016)
Charge migration induced by attosecond pulses in bio-relevant molecules
in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Calegari F
(2014)
Ultrafast electron dynamics in phenylalanine initiated by attosecond pulses.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Kelly O
(2012)
Femtosecond lasers for mass spectrometry: proposed application to catalytic hydrogenation of butadiene.
in The Analyst
| Description | Through this project, the potential for using femtosecond lasers to aid the study of the fundamental mechanisms at the heart of catalytic processes has been investigated. In collaboration with a project partner, high sensitivity analysis of catalytic products has been demonstrated using femtosecond lasers as an ionisation source in a mass spectrometer. Potential follow on work includes using femtosecond lasers to distinguish the handedness of chiral molecules such as amino acids. This has important implications for identifying catalytic products in experiments designed to mimic catalytic processes in the early development of the Solar System which may have produced the homochirality present in life. An EPSRC proposal to fund this work will be submitted in April 2014. The use of short pulse lasers to probe the ultrafast electronic processes which initiate catalytic reactions is also being investigated through an application to use the attosecond laser facility at the Politecnico Milano via a EU proposal to the Laserlab Europe Integrated Infrastructure. |
| Exploitation Route | This work will mainly be of use to catalysis researchers who are seeking to understand the fundamental electron transfer processes which initiate catalytic reactions. In particularly charge separation generated in photocatalysis - for example in titanium dioxide which is being investigated in the reduction of CO2 for fuel generation. |
| Sectors | Energy,Other |
| URL | http://www.ultrafastbelfast.com |
| Description | Research Project Grants |
| Amount | £71,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RPG-2012-735 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 09/2016 |
| Description | Research Project Grants |
| Amount | £100,900 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/M001644/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 06/2016 |
| Description | Ultrafast catalytic dynamics |
| Organisation | Uppsala University |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration with Jacinto Sa (former at Swiss Light Source, Zurich) who studies fundamental ultrafast processes in catalytic systems. Through our collaboration we have introduced Jacinto the ultrafast pump-probe experiments which has resulted in a successful application for beamtime by him at the Attosecond Laser Facility in Milan to study charge separation in TiO2 catalysts. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Jacinto has introduced to our research group the importance of electron processes such as charge separation in catalysts and possibilities for light induced reduction of water and CO2 in futrue fuel cells. |
| Impact | Femtosecond lasers for mass spectrometry: Proposed application to catalytic hydrogenation of butadiene Orla Kelly, Martin J. Duffy, Raymond B. King, Louise Belshaw, Ian D. Williams, Jacinto Sa, Chris R. Calvert and Jason B. Greenwood Analyst, 137, 64 (2012) |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Research Talk in the Chemistry Dept of Uppsala University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited talk about recent research given to about 30 members of the Chemistry Dept at Uppsala Unversity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |