Molecule interaction with electronically modified surfaces: towards next generation of heterogeneous catalysts

The importance of heterogeneous catalysis for humankind can hardly be overestimated. Its application range from pollution abatement to food industry. Unfortunately, even today, in most cases we are lacking detailed molecular level understanding of these processes. Understanding the fundamental steps of gas surface interaction is crucial for intelligent design of better catalysts. The current project based on collaboration between the University of Goettingen and The Open University of Israel (OUI) aims to expand the state-of-the-art unique experimental approaches to the investigation of fundamental molecular interactions used in the field of gas-surface scattering dynamics to the investigation of fundamental molecular interactions at complex catalytic surfaces. The project focuses on modulating the extent of the coupling between energy stored in the bonds of the impinging gas molecules and the surface electrons, which can potentially lead to ability to modulate the properties of heterogeneous catalysts. Two types of catalytically relevant surfaces are of interest: To address this issue the current project will focus on two catalytically relevant surfaces of key importance: Vanadium Dioxide films and gold nanoparticles. The availability of EHP states will be varied in a controlled fashion by: (1) temperature variation in the vicinity of so called “Mott transition” for the Vanadium dioxide films films and (2) tuning metallic/nonmetallic behavior of gold NPs by changing their size. In this collaboration, catalytic surfaces with special electronic properties are fabricated by gas-phase high temperature methods in Israel (by flame synthesis and chemical vapor deposition). These samples are subsequently subjected to quantum -state- resolved scattering experiments with carbon and nitrogen oxides in Goettingen. The correlations established in these experiments will provide insights for better catalyst design and will guide further theoretical development.