CAREER: Elucidation of Dopant Effects in Ceria Supports on the Structure and Reactivity of Metal Nanoparticles

在这个由化学系化学催化计划资助的项目中，怀俄明大学的周静教授将研究掺杂的CeO_2负载的金属纳米粒子。CeO_2中掺杂对负载型金属催化剂结构和化学的影响将通过结合光谱和显微技术对镍和金纳米颗粒负载在一系列具有特定钛和锆掺杂剂的模型CeO_2薄膜表面上的催化和表面化学研究来阐明。这项研究将在催化领域产生重大影响，因为它将重点放在纳米级催化剂结构和反应活性的基础研究上，为改进催化剂的开发提供必要的基础。拟议中的研究还将为本科生提供充足的催化和纳米科学方面的培训。周教授将积极招募少数族裔学生和女学生加入她的项目。对掺杂氧化铈支持的镍和金颗粒的机理了解，可以帮助改进乙醇的水蒸气重整和一氧化碳氧化，这是化学工业中非常重要的两个过程。此外，周静教授将通过纳米科学艺术展和扫描隧道显微镜演示到K-12课堂，向广泛的学生和普通公众宣传和传播纳米科学知识。

In this project funded by the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Jing Zhou of University of Wyoming will investigate doped ceria-supported metal nanoparticles. The effect of dopants in ceria on the structure and chemistry of supported metal catalysts will be elucidated by the catalytic and surface chemistry studies of nickel and gold nanoparticles supported on a series of well-defined model ceria thin film surfaces with selected titanium and zirconium dopants using combined spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. The research will have a significant impact in the field of catalysis because it focuses on fundamental investigations of catalyst structure and reactivity at the nano-scale regime to provide the necessary foundation for the development of improved catalysts. The proposed research will also provide ample training for graduate undergraduate students in catalysis and nanoscience. Prof. Zhou will actively recruit students from underrepresented minority groups and female students to join her program.The mechanistic understanding of nickel and gold particles supported by doped ceria can help improve steam-reforming of ethanol and CO oxidation, two very important processes in chemical industry. In addition, Prof. Jing Zhou will promote the awareness and dissemination of knowledge in nanoscience to a broad range of students and the general public through the Nanoscience Art Show and scanning tunneling microscopy demonstrations to K-12 classrooms.