| AVS 66th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Fundamental Discoveries in Heterogeneous Catalysis Focus Topic | Thursday Sessions |
| Session HC+2D+SS-ThM |
| Session: | Nanoscale Surface Structure in Heterogeneously-Catalyzed Reactions |
| Presenter: | Ashleigh Baber, James Madison University |
| Authors: | M. Gillum, James Madison University M. DePonte, James Madison University J. Wilke, James Madison University E. Maxwell, James Madison University V. Lam, James Madison University D. Schlosser, James Madison University A.E. Baber, James Madison University |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
The partial oxidation of propylene creates industrially important feedstocks that are used in a multitude of chemical fields ranging from textiles to cosmetics to air sanitation. One avenue of research on propylene oxidation is being conducted using metal/oxide model catalysts, as they have shown an affinity for high selectivity oxidation reactions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of olefin intermolecular and surface interactions, temperature programmed desorption (TPD) studies were conducted using Au(111)–based model catalysts with different surface preparations. Using TPD, we were able to identify the specific adsorption sites of propylene on a TiO2/Au(111) model catalyst, differentiating between the TiO2 nanoparticles, the Au-TiO2 interface, and the gold surface. Desorption kinetics propylene were studied on pristine and titania–modified Au(111) surfaces. Desorption products were monitored using quadrupole mass spectrometry and the surface morphology was analyzed using ex-situ atomic force microscopy. The presence of titania was confirmed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. By understanding the characteristic behaviors with combined experimental techniques, active sites and reaction pathways for partial olefin oxidation over Au–based catalysts may be identified.