Ole Rømer Colloquium

Title:

“Visualizing the Atomic-scale Structure of Catalyst Materials”

Speaker:

Jeppe Vang Lauritsen, iNANO

Abstract:

 The development of new, non-expensive materials for catalysis is seen as a crucial progress for securing energy resources and for better protection of the environment. Obtaining detailed control of materials on the nanoscale is of essence in catalysis, but often a lack of insight into the fundamental physical and chemical processes occurring on catalytically active surfaces hampers the progress. We pursue the goal of understanding catalytic processes on surfaces by focusing on what happens on the atomic-level. Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques (SPMs) are particularly strong techniques in this regard, since they allow us to visualize the atomic structure of surfaces and sometimes directly see the outcome of catalytic reactions. In my talk, I give examples on how we successfully use the SPM in interplay with other surface science techniques (e.g. at ASTRID2) to investigate industrially used catalysts for e.g. NOx pollution abatement and new earth-abundant catalyst materials for hydrogen production. Applying catalytic conditions at elevated pressure can lead to important changes in the surface structure, and I will also outline how such challenges can be met by new instrumentation capable of imaging and characterizing surfaces while the catalyst is under ‘working conditions’.

Coffee and cake will be available from 12.20