Structure, stability and reactivity of oxide supported sub-nm Pt-group metal species

The use of heterogeneous catalysts for chemical conversions relies on the design of active catalytic sites consisting of metal nanostructures supported on high surface area oxide materials. Key to design of these systems is the identification of active site geometries and compositions that are optimized for desired catalytic reactions. In this talk I will focus on examples of research from my group where we elucidate atomic scale details associated with active site characteristics on supported metal catalysts that suggest pathways toward optimization of catalytic performance. Specifically, I will describe approaches for the controlled synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of sub-nanometer supported Pt-group metal species, down to the limit of atomically dispersed metal cations. Our findings suggest that atomically dispersed Pt-group metal cations on oxide supports represent a promising group of heterogeneous catalysts for maximizing metal utilization and controlling reaction selectivity.