International Collaboration in Chemistry: Oxidation Chemistry of Model Rare Earth Oxide Surfaces - Factors Determining Selectivity for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane

美国佛罗里达大学的Jason Weaver教授和德国不来梅大学的Marcus Bäumer教授试图推进对稀土氧化物(REO)对部分和完全氧化反应的选择性的基本理解，并探索通过碱掺杂和纳米尺寸效应来调节REO的催化选择性的方法。这项研究将采用一种综合方法，包括在超高真空(UHV)中对纯REO薄膜和碱掺杂REO薄膜的模型研究，以及在更现实的反应条件下对REO纳米颗粒进行表征，目的是在材料和压差之间建立明确的理解桥梁。在表面科学和催化研究方面拥有丰富经验的多名研究人员的参与将使一大套分析方法能够在超高真空(UHV)和环境条件下应用于材料和表面化学的表征，包括使用新型的基于等离子体的方法在超高真空中生长氧化物用于基础研究。化学系的化学催化计划支持美国德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的Jason Weaver教授，他的研究将为改进用于甲烷氧化偶联(OCM)的REO催化剂的性能提供新的见解。德国资助机构DFG将支持国际合作者、不来梅大学的Marcus Bäumer教授的工作。开发工业上可行的直接将甲烷转化为高级碳氢化合物的路线可能会产生显著的经济和环境效益。拟议的项目提供了一个独特的机会来增进学生和校长调查员的教育经验。与在单一机构工作相比，学生将获得更广泛的技术技能，他们将从研究小组之间的思想交流中发展出强大的沟通技能。通过参与一个少数族裔学生指导计划，韦弗教授还计划从代表性不足的群体中招募本科生参与这个项目。其中一名合作PI将继续她的工作，指导化学工程专业女研究生的指导计划。

Professor Jason Weaver of the University of Florida in the US and Professor Marcus Bäumer of the University of Bremen in Germany seek to advance the basic understanding of the selectivity of rare earth oxides (REOs) toward partial vs. complete oxidation reactions and to explore methods for tuning the catalytic selectivity of REOs through alkali-doping and nanoscale size effects. This research will employ a combined approach that involves model studies of pure and alkali-doped REO thin films in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and characterization of REO nanoparticles under more realistic reactive conditions, with the aim of establishing clear bridges in understanding across the materials and pressure divides. The involvement of multiple investigators with broad experience in surface science and catalysis research will enable the application of a large suite of analysis methods for characterization of materials and surface chemistries in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and ambient conditions, including the use of novel, plasma-based methods for growing oxides in UHV for fundamental studies.The Chemical Catalysis Program in the Chemistry Division supports Professor Jason Weaver of the University of Texas- Austin in the US, whose research will provide new insights for improving the performance of REO catalysts used for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). The German funding agency, DFG, will support the work of the international collaborator, Professor Marcus Bäumer of the University of Bremen. The development of industrially-feasible routes for directly transforming methane to higher hydrocarbons could have significant economic and environmental benefits. The proposed project provides a unique opportunity to enhance the educational experiences of the students and principle investigators (PIs). The students will gain a much broader set of technical skills than they would by working at a single institution, and they will develop strong communication skills from the exchange of ideas among the research groups. Through involvement in a minority student mentoring program, Professor Weaver also plans to recruit undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to work on this project. One of the co-PIs will continue her work directing a mentoring program for female graduate students in chemical engineering.