Achievement

Daniel Konopka has been able to make significant progress using an interdisciplinary approach to catalysis. Working with his advisor, Dr Atanossov and Dr Kiefer, a physics professor at New Mexico State University, his multi-disciplinary approach lead to scientific understanding that neither group could have achieved on its own. The study focused on the electrochemical performance and subsequent deactivation of platinum/niobium oxides. The cause behind the catalytic deactivation had been theorized, but the mechanism had not been clearly identified. Working with Dr. Kiefer, the system was simulated using density function theory (DFT). These calculations guided Daniel in terms of conducting specific experiments designed to physically observe the cause of the deactivation problem. Feedback between experimental data and DFT simulations lead the team to converge on the solution to the problem.