Catalysts for gas adsorption and reaction

Producing fuels and chemicals depends on porous solid catalysts to facilitate reactions. A common reaction for catalysts is dehydrating alcohols to olefins, indeed, this is the key step to making polyethylene from bio-renewable resources for plastics and synthetic fibers. Dr. Bravo-Suarez’s group seeks to synthesize and test various combinations of mixed metal oxides (MMO) as catalysts for this reaction. His group modifies the porosity and surface composition of catalysts and uses advanced analytical techniques for characterization.

Students will learn about catalyst structure using principles of solid-state inorganic chemistry and will also gain experience with cutting-edge analytical methodologies. They will also learn how to use Dr. Bravo-Suarez’s specialized equipment including ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectrometers.