Shape and Size of Small Crystals Can Affect Surface Chemistry and Consolidation

这个项目将集中在小晶体的形状和大小影响某些离子无机材料的纳米晶体的表面化学和固结的方式。 将研究产生具有不寻常形态的纳米晶体的合成方法，以及这些形态如何影响固有的表面吸附性能和固结性能。 除了吸附研究外，还将对选定的纳米和微晶进行化学反应性研究，以比较催化过程，如在氧化镁上由二氧化碳和氢气合成甲醇，在氧化钙上醇脱氢，和二烯在氧化镁上的选择性氢化。这项工作的结果将导致新的合成方法，以发现和生产中大量的广泛的新型多孔无机吸附剂和催化剂。 控制固结材料中的孔尺寸和孔体积将在通过扩散控制的气体分离中以及在催化的重要领域中有用。 这些都是培养学生的重要领域，因为它们是行业内的优先领域，与经济增长高度相关，将提供良好的就业机会。

This project will focus on the ways that shape and size of small crystals affect the surface chemistry and consolidation of nanocrystals of certain ionic, inorganic materials. A study of synthetic methods that yield nanocrystals with unusual morphologies, and how these morphologies affect intrinsic surface adsorption properties and consolidation properties, will be carried out. In addition to adsorption studies, chemical reactivity studies will be obtained for selected nano- and microcrystals to compare catalytic processes such as methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide and hydrogen over magnesium oxide, alcohol dehydrogenation over calcium oxide, and selective hydrogenation of dienes over magnesium oxide.The results of this work will result in new synthetic approaches to the discovery and production of moderate to large quantities of broad, new classes of porous, inorganic adsorbants and catalysts. The control of pore size and pore volume in the consolidated materials will be useful in gas separation by diffusion control, and in the important areas of catalysis. These are important areas for training of students since they are priority areas within industry that are highly relevant to economic growth that will provide excellent job opportunities.