LOPATA HALL, Room 101
January 30, 2004
Time: 11 am
Nanoscience Research In Heterogeneous Catalysis: Challenges And Opportunities
Dr.
Jingyue (Jimmy) Liu
Corporate Science Fellow
Chemistry Technology
Monsanto Company
Jingyue.liu@monsanto.com
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalysts represent one of the oldest commercial applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology; nanoparticles of metals, semiconductors, oxides, and other compounds have been widely used in heterogeneous catalysts for a plethora of industrial chemical reactions. Most heterogeneous catalysts used in industry, however, are still manufactured by “shaking and baking” mixtures of multi-components; the nanoscale structures of industrial catalysts are not well controlled and their synthesis-structure-activity relationships are poorly understood. The recent explosive research initiatives in nanoscience and nanotechnology will undoubtedly generate innovative synthesis strategies for fabricating well-controlled nanostructured catalysts and will open fascinating routes to achieve the ultimate goal of “catalysis by design”. A key objective of nanoscience research in catalysis is to produce catalysts with 100% selectivity, extremely high activity, and low energy consumption by precisely controlling the size, shape, spatial distribution, surface composition and electronic structure, and thermal and chemical stability of the individual nanocomponents. In the 21st century, catalysis will play a critical role in improving our environment and our living standards. In this presentation, I will discuss the exciting opportunities and challenges in developing nanostructured catalysts and also briefly discuss our recent initiatives in binding-energy engineering of nanostructured catalysts as well as some recent progress in atomic scale characterization of model and industrial heterogeneous catalysts.
The Seminar is Free and Open to the Public. Refreshments will be served.
Biosketch:
Dr. Jimmy Liu received his doctoral degree from Arizona State
University in Condensed Matter Physics in 1990. Currently, he is a Science
Fellow in Monsanto, St. Louis. His research interests are in
Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanostructured catalysts; surface
structure, surface chemical reactions, and heterogeneous catalysis; nanophase
metal oxides, electrochromic displays, biosensors and smart devices; conducting
polymers, fibers and nanocomposites; herbicide and drug delivery; gene
transformation, expression, and localization; cellular ultrastructure of
biological systems; nanobiotechnology, nano array devices, and gene/protein
chips; advanced electron spectroscopy, diffraction, and imaging techniques;
confocal laser scanning microscopy and high throughput screening.
He is the recipient of many awards, and has received the
Prestigious Monsanto Edgar
M. Queeny Award for advancing the science of catalysis
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