NIRT: A New Class of Oxidation Catalysts:The Role of Atomically Dispersed Metals in Nanostructured Oxides

该提案是响应纳米尺度科学与工程计划，NSF 02-148，类别NIRT而收到的。现代纳米级催化研究的基础在于以前所未有的控制和精度设计、控制和制造相关结构的能力。该项目的总体目标是在一个跨学科的团队中引入一系列包括制备和表征在内的技术，以将选择性氧化催化剂的催化剂设计提升到一个新的水平。研究人员最近的一项发现，重点是金和氧化铈的纳米级相互作用，这导致了对水气衬衫反应活性位点的基本鉴定，这是从丰富的自然资源（如煤和天然气）中生产氢的关键。现在，这种理解上的进步有望极大地提高生产更有效的催化剂的能力，这种催化剂使用的贵金属含量更低。新方法直接嵌入金属离子或簇在铈和其他氧化物将被利用。这对实现氢能源经济的关键技术的潜在影响非常大。这些催化剂可能是燃料电池和替代燃料重整器的关键组成部分。研究生和研究生将参与高中和其他大学预科学生，并将开发一个特殊的纳米技术神学院。

This proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 02-148, category NIRT. The basis of modern catalysis research at the nanoscale lies in the ability to design, control, and fabricate relevant structures with an unprecedented degree of control and precision. The overall goal of this project is to bring to bear an array of techniques encompassing preparation and characterization within an interdisciplinary team in order to advance catalyst design for selective oxidation catalysts to a new level. A recent discovery by the investigators focusing on the nanoscale interaction of gold and cerium oxide has led to a fundamental identification of the active site for the water-gas shirt reaction, which is key to the production of hydrogen from abundant natural resources such as coal and natural gas. Now this advance in understanding promises to greatly enhance the ability to produce more efficient catalysts that utilize reduced levels of noble [costly] metals. New approaches that directly embed metal ions or clusters within ceria and other oxides will be utilized. The potential impact on enabling key technology for a hydrogen energy based economy is very high. The catalysts are potentially key components of fuel cells and alternative fuel reformers. Graduate and post-graduate students will be involved in high school and other pre-college students, and a special nanotechnology seminary will be developed.