| Research
Interests
We are interested
in developing new or improved catalytic materials by
studying how the structure of a catalyst affects its
performance in a chemical reaction.
Heterogeneous
catalysts prepared in our laboratory are often composed
of small metal particles supported on an oxide carrier.
Since the metal particles expose a significant fraction
of their atoms to the surface, the interface between
the underlying support and the particle is expected
to contribute to the overall rate and selectivity of
a catalytic reaction.
A wide variety
of analytical techniques are used to examine the metal
particles and metal-support interface. These include
adsorption of simple gases, temperature programmed desorption,
transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy,
and x-ray diffraction.
Additionally, x-ray absorption spectroscopy using synchrotron
radiation is an important tool for examining catalysts.
Analysis of the extended x-ray absorption fine structure
(EXAFS) and the x-ray absorption near edge structure
(XANES) provides information on the atomic and electronic
structure of catalyst components.
Detailed
kinetic studies of selected probe reactions are also
carried out over catalysts in laboratory microreactors.
The combination of physical and chemical methods allows
for new relationships between catalyst structure and
chemical reactivity to be discovered.
Selected
Publications
J. Tai and R.J. Davis, "Synthesis of Methacrylic Acid by Aldol Condensation of Propionic Acid with Formaldehyd over Acid-Base Bifunctional Catalysts," Catal. Today 123 (2007) 42-49.
D.G. Lahr, J. Li and R.J. Davis, “Oxidation of H 2 and CO over Ion Exchanged X and Y Zeolites,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.129 (2007) 3420-3425.
W.C. Ketchie, M. Murayama and R.J. Davis, “Promotional Effect of Hydroxyl on the Aqueous Phase Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide and Glycerol over Supported Au Catalysts” Topics in Catalysis, 44 (2007) 307-317.
W.C. Ketchie, E.P. Maris and R.J. Davis, “In-situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Supported Ru Catalysts in the Aqueous Phase,” Chem. Mater. 19 (2007) 3406-3411.
E.P. Maris and R.J. Davis, “ Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol over Carbon-Supported Ru and Pt Catalysts,” J. Catal., 249 (2007) 328-337.
W.C. Ketchie, Y.-L. Fang, M.S. Wong, M. Murayama and R.J. Davis, “ Influence of Gold Particle Size on the Aqueous-phase Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide and Glycerol,” J. Catal. 250 (2007) 94-101.
Back to
the Faculty Page >> |
