Structure Sensitivity in Mild Catalytic Hydrocarbon Conversions

美国国家科学基金会化学部化学催化项目将资助加州大学河滨分校Francisco Zaera教授的研究项目。Zaera博士和他的学生将研究金属催化剂表面的结构影响反应选择性的假设，即使是轻微的催化碳氢化合物转化，如重烯烃的氢化和异构化以及甘油的氧化。利用纳米升反应器进行动力学研究，再加上对表面中间体进行红外光谱研究，将用于探索这些想法。从这些研究中获得的基本理解将影响工业过程中多相催化剂的设计和利用。在纳米升反应器技术的应用中，将发展新的实验方法。将继续与拉丁美洲的研究小组合作，并将争取使代表性不足群体的学生，特别是西班牙裔学生更多地参与。

The Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation will support the research program of Professor Francisco Zaera at the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Zaera and his students will examine the hypothesis that the structure of the metallic catalyst surface affects the selectvitiy of the reaction even for mild catalytic hydrocarbon conversions such as the hydrogenation and isomerization of heavy olefins and the oxidation of glycerol. Kinetic investigations using an in situ nanoliter sized reactor, coupled with infrared spectroscopic investigations of the surface intermediates will be used to probe these ideas. The fundamental understanding obtained from these studies will impact the design and utilization of heterogeneous catalysts for industrial processes. New experimental methodology will be developed in the application of the nanoliter reactor technology. Collaboration with research groups in Latin America will continue, and increased participation by students in underrepresented groups, Hispanics in particular, will be pursued.