CAREER: Elucidation of Dopant Effects in Ceria Supports on the Structure and Reactivity of Metal Nanoparticles

在这个由化学部化学催化项目资助的项目中，怀俄明大学的周静教授将研究掺杂的二氧化铈支撑的金属纳米颗粒。本文将利用光谱学和显微镜技术，在一系列定义良好的模型铈薄膜表面上，通过选择钛和锆掺杂剂，对镍和金纳米颗粒进行催化和表面化学研究，阐明铈中掺杂剂对负载金属催化剂结构和化学性质的影响。该研究将在催化领域产生重大影响，因为它侧重于纳米尺度下催化剂结构和反应性的基础研究，为改进催化剂的开发提供必要的基础。拟议的研究也将为催化和纳米科学的研究生提供充足的培训。周教授将积极招收未被充分代表的少数民族学生和女学生加入她的项目。了解掺杂氧化铈支撑的镍和金颗粒的机理有助于改善乙醇的蒸汽重整和CO氧化这两个化学工业中非常重要的过程。此外，周静教授将通过纳米科学艺术展和扫描隧道显微镜在K-12教室的演示，向广大学生和公众推广纳米科学知识的认识和传播。

In this project funded by the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Jing Zhou of University of Wyoming will investigate doped ceria-supported metal nanoparticles. The effect of dopants in ceria on the structure and chemistry of supported metal catalysts will be elucidated by the catalytic and surface chemistry studies of nickel and gold nanoparticles supported on a series of well-defined model ceria thin film surfaces with selected titanium and zirconium dopants using combined spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. The research will have a significant impact in the field of catalysis because it focuses on fundamental investigations of catalyst structure and reactivity at the nano-scale regime to provide the necessary foundation for the development of improved catalysts. The proposed research will also provide ample training for graduate undergraduate students in catalysis and nanoscience. Prof. Zhou will actively recruit students from underrepresented minority groups and female students to join her program.The mechanistic understanding of nickel and gold particles supported by doped ceria can help improve steam-reforming of ethanol and CO oxidation, two very important processes in chemical industry. In addition, Prof. Jing Zhou will promote the awareness and dissemination of knowledge in nanoscience to a broad range of students and the general public through the Nanoscience Art Show and scanning tunneling microscopy demonstrations to K-12 classrooms.