Levi T. Thompson

Levi T. Thompson
Professor
3026 H. H. Dow Building
T: (734) 936-2015
F: (734) 763-0459
ltt@umich.edu

Research Group Webpage

Professor Levi Thompson earned his B.ChE. from the University of Delaware, and M.S.E. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. After working for two years at KMS Fusion in the Department of Materials Technology, he joined the faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Presently he is Professor of Chemical Engineering. Professor Thompson's research is in the areas of catalysis and surface science. Current projects focus on early transition metal nitrides and carbides, fuel processing catalysts, fuel cells, sol-gel derived materials and nanostructured films. In addition to funding from government sources, he has developed strong ties with catalyst and materials companies. Professor Thompson has authored or co-authored more than 75 publications including an invited contribution on batteries for the World Book Encyclopedia, and has been awarded 6 patents. He has also given more than 60 seminars and invited lectures.

Professor Thompson's honors include the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, Union Carbide Innovation Recognition Award, Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Teaching Award and Dow Chemical Good Teaching Award. Recently he received the 2001 College of Engineering Service Excellence Award. He has been keynote speaker at several meetings including the National Meeting of the Catalysis Society of South Africa and was selected to speak at the UOP Research and Development/Honeywell Technology Invitational Lecture Series.

Professor Thompson has established a strong record of service at all levels within the university. His service in the department includes chairing the Safety and MLK Day Organizing Committees and participation on search, promotion and tenure, preliminary examination and doctoral thesis committees. He has chaired several College of Engineering committees including the Safety and Rule Committees, and participated on the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Committee. He is advisor to the University of Michigan chapter of the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers and mentors varsity athletes. At the national level, he has regularly chaired sessions or symposia at national meetings of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Materials Research Society. He served as President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Catalysis Society.

Recently, he was appointed Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.

Current Research | Publications | Patents | Students

Current Research Interest

Our present research focuses on the development of nitride and carbide catalysts, microsystem-based fuel processors for fuel cells, water gas shift and steam reforming catalysts, and micro-fuel cells.

1. Nitride and Carbide Catalysts.

Since the discovery by Boudart and coworkers that early transition metal carbides and nitrides can be produced with surface areas in excess of 100 m²/g (domains <10 nm), there has been substantial interest in their use as catalysts. These nanocrystalline materials possess catalytic properties that resemble those of the Pt-group metals, and are among the most active hydrotreating catalysts known. In addition, some early transition metal carbide and nitride catalysts are resistant to poisoning by sulfur. Sulfur is a ubiquitous contaminant in many petroleum and chemical process streams, and most catalysts deactivate quickly and irreversibly in the presence of sulfur. Therefore it is not uncommon for these processes to include a sulfur removal step prior to the key catalytic reactor. The goals of our projects in this area are to develop a better fundamental understanding of the surface and catalytic properties of high surface area carbides and nitrides including their interactions with sulfur. (Department of Energy, Osram Sylvania)

2. Microreactors and Fuel Processors for Fuel Cells.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells operating with H2 from hydrocarbon liquids have emerged as leading candidates to replace batteries in portable electronic devices and power cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicles. A key challenge to their commercialization is the lack of sufficiently small and inexpensive fuel processors to convert hydrocarbons like methanol, gasoline and diesel into H2. Improvements in the performance and cost will require the development of innovative reactor designs, better performing catalysts, and better integration. The goal of the projects are to develop low-cost fuel processors based on microchannel reactors, new high activity catalysts, novel sulfur adsorbents and microcombustors. The integrated microchannel reactor system will result in significant improvements in the system efficiency and reductions in the fuel processor size. Methanol, gasoline and natural gas fuel processors will be demonstrated ranging in size from 5 W to 25 kW. (Department of Energy-EERE, IESET)

3. Novel Water Gas Shift and Steam Reforming Catalysts.

The water gas shift and steam reforming reactions are important steps in the conversion of hydrocarbons into H₂ for chemicals and petroleum processing. These reactions are also key processes in the production of H₂-rich gas for fuel cells. Presently available catalysts are not sufficiently active or durable for portable and vehicle applications. We are developing catalysts based on high surface area Mo carbides and oxide supported gold. These materials have demonstrated activities that are competitive with those of commercial Cu-Zn shift catalysts. The carbides were also stable during thermal cycling, however, activities and surface areas for the oxide supported gold catalysts decreased substantially with use. The focus of our work is to optimize activities for the carbides and stabilize the oxide supported gold catalysts. With improvements these materials could be used as intermediate and low temperature shift catalysts. (Osram Sylvania, Department of Energy-CARAT, Honda)

4. Micro-Fuel Cells and Electrocatalysts.

The deployment of wireless microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) will depend on the availability of micro-power supplies. Fuel cells are excellent candidates for development as micro-power supplies, combining energy densities that are higher and recharge times that are faster than batteries. Our goal is to develop highly efficient, mW-sized hydrogen PEM fuel cells and demonstrate their use in powering a MEMS device. These micro-fuel cells will be fabricated using microfabrication techniques that are similar to those used to manufacture electronic microprocessors. The micro-fuel cells will incorporate high activity electrocatalysts and will be incorporated into a system that includes a fuel storage and delivery system, and hydrogen sensing elements.

Selected Recent Publications

"Synthesis and Characterization of Aerogel-Derived Cation-Substituted Barium Hexaaluminates,"
L-C Yan and L.T. Thompson,
Appl. Catal. A. 171, 219 (1998).
"High Surface Area Metal Carbide and Nitride Electrodes,"
M.R. Wixom, D.J. Tarnowski, J.M. Parker, J.Q. Lee, P.L. Chen, I. Song, and L.T. Thompson,
Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 496, 643 (1998).
"Vanadium Nitride Catalysts: Synthesis and Evaluation for Butane Activation,"
H. Kwon, S. Choi and L.T. Thompson,
J. Catal. 184, 236 (1999).
"Catalytic Properties of Early Transition Metal Nitride and Carbide Catalysts: n-Butane Hydrogenolysis, Dehydrogenation and Isomerization."
M. Neylon, S. Choi, K.E. Curry, H-H. Kwon and L.T. Thompson,
Appl. Catal. A 183, 253 (1999).
"Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis and Dynamic Compaction of Titanium Diboride/Titanium Carbide Composites,"
I. Song, M.R. Wixom, L.T. Thompson,
J. Mater. Sci., 35, 2611 (2000).
"n-Butane Dehydrogenation over Vanadium Carbides: Correlating Catalytic and Electronic Properties,"
H. Kwon, L.T. Thompson, J. Eng and J.G. Chen,
J. Catal., 190, 60 (2000).
"Transition Metal Carbide Water Gas Shift Catalysts,"
J. Patt, C. Phillips, D. Moon and L.T. Thompson,
Catal. Letters, 65, 193 (2000).
"Batteries,"
L.Thompson, R. Brodd, D. Clerc and M. Fay,
World Book Encyclopedia, (2000).

Selected Recent Patents

"High Surface Area Nitride, Carbide and Boride Electrodes and Methods of Fabrication Thereof,"
U.S. Pat. No. 5,680.292, J. Parker, M. Wixom and L. Thompson, 1997.
"Chemical Sensors and Methods for Their Use,"
WO Pat. No. 9849547, L. Owens, M. Wixom and L.T. Thompson (Nov. 11, 1998).
"High Surface Area Mesoporous Desigel Materials and Methods for Their Fabrication,"
U.S. Patent No. 5,837,630, L. Owens, L.T. Thompson, and M.R. Wixom (Nov. 17, 1998).
"Transition Metal-Based Ceramic Materials and Articles Fabrication Therefrom,"
U.S. Patent No. 5,888,669, L.T. Thompson and M.R. Wixom (March 30, 1999).

Current Students

Carly Chan

William L. Johnson

Chang Hwan Kim

Randolph C.V. McGee

Jeremy J. Patt

Easwar S. Ranganathan

Tafaya S. Ransom

Worajit Setthapun

Andre D. Taylor

Kamilah A. Turner

Post Doctoral Research Fellows

Dr. Shyamal Kumar Bej

Dr. Cory B. Phillips

Yoshinori Kato

Students Graduated

Jeong-Gil Choi (Ph.D. 1992)

: "Structure and Function of Molybdenum Nitride
     Catalysts"

Kimberly Kolbert (MSE 1993)

: "Synthesis of Novel Hydrotreatment Catalysts"

James Brenner (Ph.D. 1994)

: "Supported Bimetallic Sulfido-Cluster Derived
     Hydrotreatment Catalysts"

Kendrick Curry (Ph.D. 1995)

: "Structure and Function of Tungsten Carbide
     Catalysts"

Craig Colling (Ph.D. 1995)

: "Synthesis and Characterization of
     Alumina Supported Molybdenum Nitride Catalysts"

Hyuek-Joon Lee (Ph.D. 1995)

: "Electrocatalytic Properties of Molybdenum Nitride
     Thin Films"

Mandar Mudholkar (Ph.D. 1995)

: "Surface Chemistries of Ion Beam Assisted
     Deposited Molybdenum Nitride Films"

Gregory Dolce (Ph.D. 1996)

: "Structure and Function of Supported
     Molybdenum Nitride Hydrotreatment Catalysts"

Ji Chang (MSE 1997)

: "Preparation of Noble Metal: Reducible Oxide
     Methane Combustion Catalysts"

Eric Johnson (MSE 1997)

: "Novel Chemical Sensor Transducers"

Lin-Chiuan Yan (Ph.D. 1998)

: "High Temperature Combustion Catalysts
     Based on Cation-Substituted Barium
     Hexaaluminates"

Saemin Choi (Ph.D. 1998)

: "Structure and Function Relationships for
     Supported Tungsten Carbide Catalysts"

Heock-Hoi Kwon (Ph.D. 1998)

: "Vanadium Nitride Butane Activation
     Catalysts"

Michael Neylon (Ph.D. 1999)

: "Models of Microstructure Development
     During the Production of High Surface Area
     Catalytic Materials"

James Waldecker (Ph.D. 2000)

: "Electrochemical and Electrocatalytic
     Properties of Nitrides"

Christopher Bennett (Ph.D. 2002)

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Last Updated: October 2002

Department of Chemical Engineering, 2300 Hayward St.
3074 H.H. Dow Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136
Phone (734) 764-2383 Fax (734) 763-0459