Objective
A multiscale theoretical investigation of the CO oxidation on Au nanostructures supported on various oxides is proposed. Since Haruta’s 1987 discovery of the exceptional activity of gold (Au) nanoparticles (2-5 nm in diameter), many groups have verified this exceptional activity towards many reactions when supported on certain oxides. For example, the Au/TiO2 system exhibits unprecedented activity in low temperature CO oxidation via O2. CO oxidation is of paramount importance not only in automotive catalysis but also in modern energy related applications including hydrogen production via the water-gas shift reaction with steam from fossil and renewable fuels, hydrogen purification via selective oxidation of hydrogen with oxygen, fuel cells, etc. Although the high activity of Au is beyond any doubt, there is still much debate on the nature of active sites and the underlying reaction mechanisms. Herein, a multiscale bottom-up approach will be developed that cuts among “ab-initio” and semi-empirical (free-energy related) techniques and integrates this information into first-principles Monte Carlo kinetics simulations in order to explain the exceptional reactivity of Au nanoparticles on certain supports, explore its electronic properties and eventually pave the way for design of efficient catalysts for hydrogen purification and fuel cells applications.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energy
Keywords
Call for proposal
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)Coordinator
70013 Irakleio
Greece