PNNL

Abstract

The proportion of chemical industry processes using catalysts exceeds 80%. Current commercial heterogeneous catalysts are structurally and chemically complex and data gathered from them can seldom be interpreted with atomic-level precision. We seek to reduce the complexity of TMO catalysts to levels addressable and controllable at the atomic level, while maintaining intimate linkages with practical catalysis and catalytic materials. The focus of the proposed work is to gain a fundamental understanding of chemical transformations in order to design and construct new catalysts with more precise control of specific chemical reactions. We are employing an integrated experimental/theoretical approach to advance our current ability to understand, design, and control the catalytic and surface chemistry of transition metal oxides, specifically for redox and acid-base chemistries. The approach combines novel solid-state inorganic synthesis, surface science, experimental and theoretical/computational chemical physics, and mechanistic organic chemistry to address this complex and important challenge. Selected highlights from the results obtained in the last year are presented in the conference proceedings extended abstract.