Structure Sensitivity in Mild Catalytic Hydrocarbon Conversions

美国国家科学基金会化学部的化学催化计划将支持滨江的加州大学的弗朗西斯科扎埃拉教授的研究计划。 Zaera博士和他的学生们将研究这样一个假设，即金属催化剂表面的结构影响反应的选择性，即使是对于温和的催化烃类转化，如重质烯烃的氢化和异构化以及甘油的氧化。 动力学调查使用原位纳升大小的反应器，再加上红外光谱的表面中间体的调查将被用来探测这些想法。 从这些研究中获得的基本理解将影响工业过程中多相催化剂的设计和利用。 将在纳升反应器技术的应用中开发新的实验方法。 将继续与拉丁美洲的研究团体合作，并将争取更多代表性不足群体的学生，特别是西班牙裔学生的参与。

The Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation will support the research program of Professor Francisco Zaera at the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Zaera and his students will examine the hypothesis that the structure of the metallic catalyst surface affects the selectvitiy of the reaction even for mild catalytic hydrocarbon conversions such as the hydrogenation and isomerization of heavy olefins and the oxidation of glycerol. Kinetic investigations using an in situ nanoliter sized reactor, coupled with infrared spectroscopic investigations of the surface intermediates will be used to probe these ideas. The fundamental understanding obtained from these studies will impact the design and utilization of heterogeneous catalysts for industrial processes. New experimental methodology will be developed in the application of the nanoliter reactor technology. Collaboration with research groups in Latin America will continue, and increased participation by students in underrepresented groups, Hispanics in particular, will be pursued.