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This proposal seeks EPSRC support for the UK partner to take part in a COST Network which has been approved by the EC. The Network involves groups from Copenhagen (co-ordinator), Bochum, Manchester, Tubingen and Marseile. It will investigate the electronic and geometric relationships at surfaces of metal oxides in relation to their catalytic and sensing activity. Model studies on single crystal surfaces have already proven fruitful in the elucidation of the involved reaction mechanisms for several important chemical reactions. We propose to carryout a series of investigations on pure crystal metal oxide surfaces, in particular on the low-index surfaces of AI2O3, CaO, CoO, Cr2O3, Fe3O4, LaAi2O3, MnO,NiO, SiO2 SnO2, SrTiO3, ZnO and ZrO2, and of their interaction with small active molecules such as CH4, CO, CO2, and H2O. Besides their challenging role in basic science they are all of high present relevance in catalysis and gas sensor applications. We will further study the effects of low-co-ordination metal centres at the oxides surfaces, of absorbed metal particles and ultrathin films, e.g. of Cu, Ni, Pt, Ag, Na, K and Ca, the latter of interest due to their effect as poison or promoter in the oxide surface reactivity.Methods used will be :AES, AFM, (AR)EELS, (AR)UPS, ESDIAD, ESR FTIR(AS), HREELS, IRAS, LEED, LID, MBE, NEXAFS, PES, RAIRS, SEXAFS, SPALEED, (S)SIMS, STM+STS(-SXM), TCS, TPD, TEM, VLEED, XPED AND XPS.
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