Uniform Metal Nanoparticle Arrays as Model Electrocatalysts: Unraveling Particle Structure-Reactivity Relationship

化学系分析与表面化学（ASC）项目将资助美国迈阿密大学邹寿忠教授的研究项目。邹教授的研究将集中在改进燃料电池技术上。邹教授和他的学生将采用一种新的方法来制造纳米颗粒催化剂模型，并研究它们对二氧还原、甲醇和一氧化碳氧化反应的电催化活性，这些反应对直接甲醇燃料电池具有重要意义。这种新的制备方法可以得到组织良好、均匀的纳米粒子阵列，并且可以很好地控制它们的大小、组成和粒子间的距离。这有可能提高电催化活性和燃料电池的整体性能。该研究将在一个前沿的跨学科研究领域为本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员提供极好的培训机会，这对美国经济具有重要意义。

The Analytical and Surface Chemistry (ASC) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the research program of Prof. Shouzhong Zou of Miami University Ohio. The study of Prof. Zou will focus on improving fuel cell technology. Prof. Zou and his students will use a new approach to fabricate model nanoparticle catalysts and study their electrocatalytic activities toward dioxygen (O2) reduction, as well as methanol and carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation, reactions that are of importance to the direct methanol fuel cell. The new fabrication method will result in well organized uniform nanoparticle arrays, and their size, composition, as well as interparticle distance will be well controlled. This could potentially improve the electrocatalytic activity and overall performance of fuel cells. The study will provide excellent training opportunities to undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in a cutting edge interdisciplinary research field, which is of great importance to the US economy.