US-Sweden Cooperative Research: High Resolution ESCA Studies of Surface Electronic States In Cu/ZnO Methanol Synthesis Catalysts

该奖项将支持加里·西蒙斯博士、利哈伊大学和教授之间在多相催化方面的合作研究。Ulrik Gelius和Nils Martensson，瑞典乌普萨拉大学物理研究所。X射线光电子能谱(ESCA)是材料科学中的重要工具。这一领域的最新发展预示着前所未有的进步，以及对源于界面现象的材料性质的精确理解。在这个联合项目中，Simmons博士将使用瑞典开发的ESCA仪器来研究铜和氧化锌之间的相互作用，据信这是导致铜/氧化锌甲醇合成催化剂活性的原因。Uppsala仪器在高能量分辨率下具有世界上最高的灵敏度，因此具有从铜/锌催化剂的价带光电子能谱中解析铜-氧化锌相互作用的能力。核心电子能级的高分辨谱以及俄歇电子跃迁可能为铜-氧化锌相互作用提供进一步的证据。此外，参与物理研究所正在进行的项目将使首席研究人员有机会了解新信息的理论基础，这些信息可能会被新一代高分辨率ESCA仪器解决。该项目将受益于主要研究人员在多相催化方面的重要背景和经验，以及Uppsala小组最近对将高能量分辨率ESCA应用于包括催化在内的固体问题的兴趣。

This award will support collaborative research in heterogeneous catalysis between Dr. Gary Simmons, Lehigh University and Profs. Ulrik Gelius and Nils Martensson, Physics Institute, University of Uppsala, Sweden. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA) is a tool of major importance in materials science. Recent developments in this field promise unprecedented advances, as well as precision in the understanding of properties of materials that stem from interfacial phenomena. In this joint project, Dr. Simmons will use ESCA instruments developed in Sweden to study the interaction between copper and zinc oxide that is believed to account for the activity of Cu/ZnO methanol synthesis catalysts. The Uppsala instrument has the highest sensitivity at high energy resolution in the world, and thus has the capability of resolving the copper-zinc oxide interaction from the valence band photo electron spectrum of the Cu/ZnO catalyst. High resolution spectra of the core electron levels, as well as the Auger electron transition, may provide further evidence for the copper-zinc oxide interaction. In addition, participation in the ongoing programs at the Physics Institute will afford the principal investigator the opportunity to learn about the theoretical basis of new information that will likely be resolved by the new generation of high resolution ESCA instruments. The project will benefit from the significant background and experience in heterogeneous catalysis of the principal investigator, as well as the recent interest by the Uppsala group in the application of high energy resolution ESCA to solid state problems, including catalysis.