Achievement

IGERT Fellow, Ryan Davis, has improved the resolution of IR spectra obtained during in-situ analysis of interactions between the surface of supported metal catalysts and molecules found in flowing feed gas, such as CO and NO in catalytic abatement of these pollutants. This has allowed the identification of metal oxidation states and chemical intermediates during the catalytic cycle. A model has been developed to fit X-Ray absorbance fine structure (XAFS) data recorded synchrotron light sources. The model is currently being refined to fit data from mixed metal oxide materials with various crystal structures and metal doping to be used as catalytic materials that have been developed in collaboration with IGERT Associate Joshua A. Kurzman of the Ram Seshadri group. Finally, a flow cell has been designed and entered preliminary tests to obtain in-situ XAFS data. A prototype has been fabricated and data has been collected in static conditions.