CAS: Role of Dynamic Surface/Subsurface Oxygenation of Noble Metal/3d-Transition Metal Alloy Nanoparticles in Oxidation Reactions

在化学系化学催化项目的资助下，纽约州立大学宾汉姆顿分校的钟教授将研究纳米颗粒催化剂表面的氧化作用在碳氢化合物氧化反应中的作用。为先进的排放控制系统和节能技术开发活性、稳定和低成本的催化剂是全球推动能源和环境可持续发展的重要组成部分。碳氢化合物的低温催化部分和完全氧化有助于从清洁燃料生产到清洁空气等领域的全球努力。 传统的方法需要在催化剂中加入大量昂贵且稀缺的铂族金属（PGM）。 在这个项目中，钟教授和他的团队将了解如何将较低量的PGM与较低成本的非PGM合金化可以实现更高的催化性能。精确测定和控制纳米级催化剂的表面组成对于实现所需的催化性能和可持续性的社会需求至关重要。钟教授将积极参与以其研究为基础的外展活动，以促进学生参与科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）学科。这些活动，包括在钟教授的实验室创造暑期研究实习机会，并参与学士学位桥梁，麦克奈尔学者和智能能源学者计划，将致力于改善有前途的高中毕业生，社区大学学生和代表性不足的学生的教育，并鼓励他们对STEM职业的兴趣。在这个项目中，钟教授和他的团队将对纳米颗粒催化剂表面的动态氧化作用有一个基本的了解，纳米颗粒催化剂由选定的贵金属（NM）与3d过渡金属（3dTM）合金组成，在烃的氧化反应中，专注于小的碳氢化合物分子。 NM/3dTM纳米合金催化剂具有可调的金属组合物和可控的表面氧化将通过分子工程成核，生长和纳米结构化制备。详细的金属组成和表面上的氧化将与烃氧化反应中催化剂的活性和稳定性相关。 表面活性位点和中间物种的动态变化将使用原位/操作技术（如漫反射红外傅里叶变换光谱法（DRIFTS））来确定。该奖项反映了NSF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。

With funding from the Chemical Catalysis program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Zhong of the State University of New York at Binghamton will study the role of oxygenation on the surface of nanoparticle catalysts in oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons. Developing active, stable and low-cost catalysts for advanced emission control systems and fuel-efficient technologies is a major part of the global drive toward energy and environmental sustainability. Low-temperature catalytic partial and complete oxidation of hydrocarbons contributes to this global drive in areas ranging from clean fuel production to clean air. Traditional approaches require large quantity of expensive and scarce platinum group metal (PGM) in the catalysts. In this project, Professor Zhong and his team will develop an understanding of how alloying a lower-amount of PGM with lower-cost non-PGMs can achieve a higher catalytic performance. The precise determination and control of the surface composition of the nanoscale catalysts are critical for achieving the desired catalytic performance and the societal needs in sustainability. Professor Zhong will be actively engaging in outreach activities that build upon his research to promote engagement of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. These activities, including creating summer research internships in Professor Zhong’s laboratory and participating in Bridges to Baccalaureate, McNair Scholars, and Smart Energy Scholars Programs, will be directed at improving the education of promising high school seniors, community college students, and underrepresented students and encouraging their interest in STEM careers.In this project, Professor Zhong and his team will develop a fundamental understanding of the role of dynamic oxygenation on the surface of nanoparticle catalysts consisting of selected noble metals (NM) alloyed with 3d transition metals (3dTM) in oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons, focusing on small hydrocarbon molecules. The NM/3dTM nanoalloy catalysts with tunable metal compositions and controllable oxygenation on the surfaces will be prepared by molecular-engineered nucleation, growth, and nanostructuring. The detailed metal composition and the oxygenation on the surface will be correlated with the activity and stability of the catalysts in the hydrocarbon oxidation reactions. The dynamic changes in surface active sites and intermediate species will be determined using in-situ/operando techniques such as Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS).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.