"Atomically Precise Catalysis Studies with CLS Synchrotron for Sustainable, Efficient, and Environmentally-Friendly Chemical Processes"

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Catalytic chemical reaction processes play important roles in energy and chemical productions and environment protection technologies. The core of a catalytic chemical reaction process is the catalyst. The advances towards more sustainable, more efficient, and more environmentally-friendly chemical reaction processes need edge-cutting scientific research which leads to breakthrough in development of catalyst materials, where better atomically-precise understanding of catalytic phenomena using powerful synchrotron light source is essential. This proposal suggests a few continuing and initiating projects or directions that H. Wang's research group will pursue in the coming 5-year period of time. The first project is to build research facilities of in situ atomically-precise characterization of catalytic materials and catalytic reactions at the CLS (Canadian Light Source) with the help of other funds in applications. The beamlines possibly to use are HXMA (hard X-ray microanalysis) and SXRMB (soft X-ray microcharacterization beamline). Spectrum analysis tools such as XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) and EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) are also implemented. The second direction is to study the Ni-based catalysts for reactions such as CO2 reforming of methane, woody biomass conversions, and glycerol reforming. The similarity of the mechanism of carbon formation on Ni catalysts in these reactions will be investigated using synchrotron research facilities; and solutions to the common catalytic deactivation are to be discovered. The third is to develop the catalytic reactions in H2S splitting cycle, esp. the Bunsen reaction for a sustainable H2 production process for oil sand bitumen upgrading. And the fourth is to develop the internal-illuminated photocatalysts using the atomic layer deposition method. The establishment of the in situ catalysis research facilities at the CLS will benefit not only this program but the catalysis community in Canada. This program includes the training of 2 PhD students, 2 MSc students, 2 postdoctoral fellows under Wang's supervision, and others who come to access the facility at the CLS.