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教授和德国不莱梅大学的Marcus Bäumer教授试图推进对稀土氧化物（REO）对部分与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调节REO催化选择性的方法。这项研究将采用一种综合方法，涉及纯和碱掺杂REO薄膜在超高真空（UHV）中的模型研究和REO纳米粒子在更现实的反应条件下的表征，目的是建立明确的桥梁，了解材料和压力鸿沟。在表面科学和催化研究方面具有广泛经验的多名研究人员的参与将使大量分析方法能够在真空（UHV）和环境条件下应用于材料和表面化学的表征，包括使用新的，血浆-基于生长氧化物的方法在特高压的基础研究。化学系的化学催化计划支持教授贾森韦弗该研究将为改善用于甲烷氧化偶联（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、不莱梅大学的Marcus Bäumer教授的工作。开发工业上可行的将甲烷直接转化为高级碳氢化合物的路线可能具有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，以提高学生和主要研究人员（PI）的教育经验。学生将获得比在单一机构工作更广泛的技术技能，并将通过研究小组之间的思想交流发展强大的沟通能力。通过参与一个少数民族学生辅导计划，韦弗教授还计划招募来自代表性不足的群体的本科生从事这个项目。 其中一名联合PI将继续她的工作，指导化学工程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.