Department Seminar - Dr. Mark Sullivan

Abstract

Interstitial transition metal carbides are formed by the occlusion of carbon atoms within the lattice of metal atoms such as Mo or W. Diverse combinations of carbide stoichiometries catalyze a multitude of useful reactions for sustainable petrochemical production including biomass hydrodeoxygenation and alkane oxidative dehydrogenation, but the lack of understanding of the effects of synthesis and reaction condition parameters upon catalytic function inhibits the use of carbides in industrial processes. This work attempts to understand the consequences of altered reaction conditions upon catalyst structure and consequent reactivity through the use of probe reactions, including isopropanol dehydration and propane oxidative dehydrogenation, as the basis for a kinetic and mechanistic framework that can be used to characterize the working catalyst surface in situ under transient and steady state conditions