Tsilomelekis Research Group

Material Synthesis | Heterogeneous Catalysis | Operando Molecular Spectroscopy 

Research

Structure-Reactivity Relationships in Biomass Processing

 

   The necessity of creating the next generation fuels and chemicals from innovative renewable sources, like biomass, motivates this research project. We apply vibrational spectroscopic techniques to investigate the molecular structure of catalytic materials in solution. To achieve this goal, we design a spectroscopic optical cell reactor that will allow the generation of catalytic performance data similar to those achieved with conventional catalytic batch reactors. Emphasis is also placed on studying solvent effects in biomass processing by unraveling catalyst-solute-solvent interactions under operando reaction conditions. 

   We utilize Reaction Induced Difference Infrared Spectroscopy in order to In-Situ record changes in infrared absorption which are caused by a reaction. Conducting the experiments that way, we get information only from “active” species or functional groups, that is, those that are affected by the change from the initial to the final state. Additionally, Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (SEIRAS) are also utilized to create new approaches for specific compounds detection and quantification.

 

Shale Gas to Chemicals

 

   This project aims at the design of new catalytic materials towards an efficient catalytic process for the manufacture of olefins from their respective hydrocarbons without producing syngas as an intermediate. The project enables the coupling of high-throughput experimentation with spectroscopic studies under operando conditions to deliver mechanistic insights and a rational approach toward reactor and catalyst design via molecular level thinking.  

We apply a variety of spectroscopic techniques to characterize the molecular structure of catalytic materials under in-situ and operando conditions. Emphasis is placed on closing the loop between material synthesis and tailored catalytic properties by integrating vibrational spectroscopy into each individual synthesis steps.

We are specifically interested in:

i) solid super acid catalysts

ii) mixed metal oxides

iii) zeolites

iv) carbon based supported catalysts