Our research program is aimed at providing a molecular level understanding of the energetics, dynamics and morphology-dependence of elementary surface reactions that play key roles in energy-related catalysis. Of particular interest are catalytic systems that involve simple feedstock chemicals (e.g., H₂, CO, CO₂, O₂, CH₄), the selective oxidation of C₁ and C₂ molecules (e.g., CH₃OH, C₂H₄) and reaction systems that have environmental impact (e.g., De-NO_x, De-SO_x). A unique aspect of our surface science efforts is the use of lasers for both state-selective detection of desorbed products and the photo-initiation of surface processes such as desorption, diffusion, dissociation and reaction. Photoexcitation leading to surface heating (infrared light) or photodissociation (UV light) provides an alternative means for activating thermal reactions with a high degree of control over reaction intermediates, time-scales and rates. New efforts are focused on the size-dependent reactivity of metal and metal-containing nanoparticles, which will be probed by a wide variety of techniques including molecular beam techniques, x-ray and infrared spectroscopy.

Contact information:

Michael G. White

Chemistry Department

Bldg. 555

Brookhaven National Lab

Upton, NY 11778

email: mgwhite@bnl.gov

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