Microwave Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts

该提案是对NSF 02-148 NIRT类纳米级科学与工程倡议的响应。微波合成的最新进展有望彻底改变制造纳米级催化剂所需的时间。沸石、混合金属氧化物和介孔分子筛通常需要较长的合成时间，因为有序结构的成核和生长速度较慢。该项目承诺将大大减少制备一系列材料所需的时间，并将从根本上促进我们对纳米多孔晶体材料合成的理解。一个在拟议研究领域拥有良好记录的多学科团队将解决这些材料催化的合成、表征和理论方面的问题。研究生显然将从学科间的环境中受益，并将大力参与正在进行的涉及少数民族学生的东北联盟REU项目。该研究项目还将与工业界建立联系。

This proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 02-148, category NIRT. Recent advances in microwave synthesis that promise to revolutionize the time required to fabricate catalysts at the nanoscale. Zeolites, mixed metal oxides and mesoporous molecular sieves typically can require extended synthesis times because of slow nucleation and growth of ordered structures. This project promises to greatly reduce the time required for preparing an array of materials, and it will also fundamentally advance our understanding of nanoporous crystalline materials synthesis. A multidisciplinary team having an excellent track record in the proposed area of research, will address synthesis, characterization and theoretical aspects of catalysis by these materials. Graduate students will clearly benefit from the interdiscplinary environment, and there will be strong participation in the on-going Northeast Alliance REU program involving minority students. The research program will forge ties with industry also.