Project Details
Projekt
Synthesis, characterization and testing of nanoparticle catalysts
Applicant
Professorin Dr. Silke Behrens
Subject Area
Technical Chemistry
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 525028514
In this project, we aim to develop defined nanoparticle (NP) - based model catalysts in which the active metals are dispersed down to the single atom level in a host metal. Pd/Au- and Pt/Au-based NP cata¬lysts with different metal ratios will provide prototypical examples and a starting material for studies in thermo- and electrocatalytic hydrogen peroxide synthesis (denoted as t-HP and e-HP, respectively) in this RU. Using the ‘precursor’ concept, we will synthesize monodisperse NPs with sizes in the range of 1 to 10 nm and homogeneous metal compositions and employ them as building units to access model catalysts with defined interparticle distances and optimized NP-support interactions. The influence of electronic and geometric effects (especially site isolation vs. ensemble effects) on the catalytic performance in t-HP will be investigated in this project. The catalytic performance of the NP-based catalysts will be also provided to, e.g., TP-Röse for a general catalytic evaluation in e-HP. As a result, the key performance indicators of t-HP in this project will be compared with those of the catalytic tests in e-HP for the NP-based catalysts (TP-Röse) and the flat electrodes (TP-Strasser). Together with the results of catalyst characterization (TP-Grunwaldt, TP-Röse, TP-Strasser), this will allow us to identify the most promising catalysts. The selected model catalysts will then be scaled to larger quantities and provided for further investigations in the different cell and reactor setups and for in-depth kinetic studies in e-HP and t-HP (TP-Dittmeyer, TP-Röse, TP-Sauer, TP-Strasser), providing the experimental basis for further theoretical studies and simulations (TP-Krewer, TP-Studt). Using the overall information on relevant material descriptors for the Pd/Au and Pt/Au NP-based catalysts, gained from the concerted efforts in this RU, different metal combinations will then be addressed to investigate a more general applicability to other materials, also with a view to a second funding period. Together with the results from the other projects in this RU, we aim to identify common site motifs and reaction mechanisms that will provide us with a more fundamental understanding and allow us to further improve and guide catalyst design for both reactions.
DFG Programme
Research Units
