Transition metal carbides as supports for active metal catalysts

Neil Schweitzer and Suljo Linic

Fig. 1, Molybdenum-terminated surface with unit cell outlined and three possible adsorption sites labeled. (color key: Top Mo layer, second Mo layer, first carbon layer, second carbon layer)

This project will be dedicated to expanding the knowledge of the use of transition metal carbide as supports for active metal catalysts. Platinum loaded on molybdenum carbide has been shown to exhibit high activity towards the water-gas shift reaction. The activity exhibited by this metal/carbide catalyst is much greater that the activity shown by the carbide alone or Pt loaded on an inert silica support. The goal of this project will be to understand this phenomenon, and to use knowledge gained from intense study of this process on an atomistic scale to develop predictive trends that can aid catalyst development for related reactions.

This study will focus on studying the structure of the carbide surface under reaction conditions and also how metal-support interactions affect the physical characteristics and thermal stability of the adsorbed metal particles. This study will include the use of traditional catalyst characterization techniques (chemisorption methods, temperature programmed reduction, x-ray diffraction), surface studies (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy) and theoretical calculations (density functional theory) among others tools.


	Projects Publications Laboratory Transition metal carbides as supports for active metal catalysts Neil Schweitzer and Suljo Linic Fig. 1, Molybdenum-terminated surface with unit cell outlined and three possible adsorption sites labeled. (color key: Top Mo layer, second Mo layer, first carbon layer, second carbon layer) This project will be dedicated to expanding the knowledge of the use of transition metal carbide as supports for active metal catalysts. Platinum loaded on molybdenum carbide has been shown to exhibit high activity towards the water-gas shift reaction. The activity exhibited by this metal/carbide catalyst is much greater that the activity shown by the carbide alone or Pt loaded on an inert silica support. The goal of this project will be to understand this phenomenon, and to use knowledge gained from intense study of this process on an atomistic scale to develop predictive trends that can aid catalyst development for related reactions. This study will focus on studying the structure of the carbide surface under reaction conditions and also how metal-support interactions affect the physical characteristics and thermal stability of the adsorbed metal particles. This study will include the use of traditional catalyst characterization techniques (chemisorption methods, temperature programmed reduction, x-ray diffraction), surface studies (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy) and theoretical calculations (density functional theory) among others tools.