Collaborative Research: Controlling the properties of oxide-encapsulated metals for interfacial catalysis

固体催化剂在用于生产燃料、化学品和能源的节能商业过程中以及在减轻污染方面发挥着重要作用。目前使用的大多数商用固体催化剂由支撑在高表面积支撑材料上的金属颗粒组成。需要对这些催化剂进行改进以进一步提高其效率。该领域的成功研究降低了能源消耗，减少了许多化学过程对环境的影响。实现这一目标的一种方法是通过控制金属颗粒和支撑材料之间的界面。在这个项目中，Nikolla博士（韦恩州立大学）和Medlin博士（科罗拉多大学）正在研究这些金属/支撑界面，目的是发现更活跃、更高效的催化剂。Nikolla博士和Medlin博士积极参与与年轻学生教育有关的外展活动，特别是那些来自代表性不足群体的学生。例如，他们正在为代表性不足的K-12女学生开设讲习班，以增强她们在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域接受高等教育的理解和愿望。Dr. Nikolla和Dr. Medlin还设计了一些活动，让家长了解STEM领域，这样家长就可以鼓励他们的孩子接受STEM教育。在化学部门化学催化项目的资助下，韦恩州立大学的Eranda Nikolla博士和科罗拉多大学的Will Medlin博士正在发展对“倒置”催化系统中固体金属/金属氧化物界面的理解，目的是提高化学反应的催化活性和选择性。他们正在合成受控的金属氧化物封装的金属纳米颗粒（即M@MO结构），其结构和金属和金属氧化物组分的组成都有系统的变化。研究小组将这些合成变化与表面化学性质和催化剂性能联系起来。从实验模型催化剂的基本见解，再加上对倒置催化剂系统的高级表征和计算研究，正被用于促进对界面化学的理解。封装的催化剂系统也被研究作为一个平台，通过有机配体的氧化孔功能化来控制反应界面周围的近表面环境。Nikolla博士和Medlin博士积极参与教育和研究外展活动，旨在激励和告知来自代表性不足群体的本科和K-12女学生有关STEM领域和催化领域的研究。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Solid catalysts play an important role in energy-efficient commercial processes used to produce fuels, chemicals, and energy, and also in pollution mitigation. Most commercial solid catalysts used today consist of metal particles supported on high surface area support materials. Improvements in these catalysts are needed to further improve their efficiency. Successful research in this area results in lower energy consumption and reduced environmental impact of many chemical processes. One approach to this goal is through control of the interfaces between the metal particles and the support materials. In this project, Dr. Nikolla (Wayne State University) and Dr. Medlin (University of Colorado) are developing an understanding these metal/support interfaces with the objective of discovering more active and efficient catalysts. Dr. Nikolla and Dr. Medlin actively engage in outreach activities related to the education of young students, especially those from underrepresented groups. For example, they are developing workshops for underrepresented K-12 female students to enhance their understanding and desire in pursuing higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Dr. Nikolla and Dr. Medlin are also designing activities to inform parents about STEM fields, so that the parents can encourage their children to pursue STEM education.With funding from the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Dr. Eranda Nikolla of Wayne State University and Dr. Will Medlin of University of Colorado are developing an understanding of solid metal/metal oxide interfaces in "inverted" catalytic systems with the objective of enhancing catalytic activity and selectivity in chemical reactions. They are synthesizing controlled metal oxide-encapsulated metal nanoparticles (i.e., M@MO structures) with systematic variations in structure and composition of both the metal and metal oxide components. The research team correlates these synthetic variations to the surface chemical properties and catalyst performance. Fundamental insights from experimental model catalysts coupled with advanced characterization and computational studies on inverted catalyst systems are being used to advance the understanding of interfacial chemistry. The encapsulated catalyst systems are also being investigated as a platform for controlling the near-surface environment around the reactive interface through functionalization of the oxide pores with organic ligands. Dr. Nikolla and Dr. Medlin are actively engaged with educational and research outreach activities aimed at inspiring and informing undergraduate and K-12 female students from underrepresented groups regarding STEM fields and research in the area of catalysis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.