AVS 65th International Symposium & Exhibition
    Surface Science Division Wednesday Sessions
       Session SS+HC-WeM

Invited Paper SS+HC-WeM1
Toward Surface Science-informed Design of Bifunctional Deoxygenation Catalysts

Wednesday, October 24, 2018, 8:00 am, Room 203C

Session: Catalytic Alloys: Understanding Heterogeneity
Presenter: J. Will Medlin, University of Colorado Boulder
Correspondent: Click to Email
A major challenge for catalysis is controlling the selectivity for desired reactions of biomass-derived compounds, including selective removal of oxygen atoms. Surface-level studies have the potential to provide deep insights into catalytic reaction mechanisms for deoxygenation. Using single-crystal metal surfaces as model catalysts, the elementary steps associated with both selective and non-selective reaction pathways can be mapped out in significant detail. Surface science studies have also elucidated roles of the different metals within bimetallic catalysts for complex deoxygenation reactions. This presentation will focus on how insights from such model studies have been used to inform efforts to design catalysts for deoxygenation and other key reactions of biomass-derived compounds. It will also discuss complications arising from the so-called pressure and materials "gaps" associated with the use of model surfaces, as well as opportunities for addressing these apparent limitations.