Uwe Burghaus
Surface Chemistry
Research directions
Model catalysts - nanoclusters on supports: Here we focus our attention on the reactivity of metal nanoparticles which are adsorbed on metal oxide supports. These topics are related to heterogeneous catalysis and materials science applications. In collaboration with national laboratories, for some of these projects, nanofabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography are used to manufacture the samples. The figure below shows a scanning electron microscopy image of a typical sample (made at Argonne National labs and Molecular Foundry in Chicago/Berkeley by S. Cabrini and L. Ocola) and molecular beam scattering data.
Nanotubes: We work with carbon nanotubes and inorganic nanotubes mostly towards application in heterogeneous catalysis. The figure shows a sample of WS2 nanotubes which is used for hydrodesulfurization catalysis.
Alkaline earth oxides: Projects related to a DoE-EPSCoR state grant concern the reactivity of CaO, graphite, and iron oxide surfaces and related nanoclusters. Coal includes these compounds as impurities. Therefore we study the interaction of combustion gases with these systems.
Measuring techniques
Adsorption dynamics: Application of molecular beam scattering techniques to characterize the morphology and reactivity (SAR, Structure Activity Relationship) of catalyst surfaces. A molecular beam might be compared with a LASER system, however, instead of monochromatic light we use supersonic and nearly monochromatic particle beams.
Adsorption kinetics: Temperature ramping techniques at vacuum conditions and ambient pressure (new setup under construction) are applied to characterize the kinetics of surface reactions.
Spectroscopy: We recently obtained funding to set up a laboratory x-ray photoelectron spectrometer.
Current funding (2009-2012)
NSF-CAREER, DoE-EPSCoR
Selected Publications
Unexpected bond activation of small organic molecules on a metal oxide - butane/CaO(100), Chemical Communications (2008) 4073-4075, by E. Kadossov, U. Burghaus,
Stabilization of polar ZnO-surfaces: Validating microscopic models by using CO as a probe molecule, Physical Review Letters 90 (2003) 106102--106102-4, by V. Staemmler, K. Fink, B. Meyer, D. Marx, M. Kunat, S.Gil Girol, U. Burghaus, Ch. Wöll.
Unexpected adsorption of oxygen on TiO2 nanotube arrays - influence of crystal structure, Nano Letters 7 (2007)1091-1094, by S. Funk, B. Hokkanen, U. Burghaus, A. Ghicov, P. Schmuki
Surface science perspective of carbon dioxide chemistry - adsorption kinetics and dynamics of CO2 on selected model surfaces, Catalysis Today, 148 (2009), by U. Burghaus
Recent Publications
Adsorption dynamics of CO on silica-supported Cu clusters – a molecular beam scattering study,
Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 115 (2011) 16590-16597,
by M. Komarneni, J. Shan, and U. Burghaus
Adsorption and dissociation kinetics of alkanes on CaO(100), Surface Science, 605 (2011) 1534-1540, by A.Chakradhar, Y. Liu, J. Schmidt, E. Kadossov, and U. Burghaus
Adsorption Kinetics of Small Molecules on Selenium Foil, Surface Science, 605 (2011) 898-902 by A. Chakradhar, Z. Yu, A. Ugrinov, U. Burghaus
Site specific surface chemistry on nanotubes, Israel Journal of Chemistry, 50 (2010) 449–452, (invited) by U. Burghaus, A. Zak, and R. Rosentsveig
Preparation and Characterization of Nanomaterials for Sustainable Energy Production ACS Nano 4 (2010) 5517-5526 (invited) by Chang-jun Liu, Uwe Burghaus, Flemming Besenbacher and Zhong Lin Wang (Tianjin University, China; NDSU, USA; iNANO, Denmark; Georgia Tech, USA)
Adsorption of thiophene on silica supported Mo clusters, Surface Science 604 (2010) 1221-1229 by M. Komarneni, E. Kadossov, J. Justin, M. Lu, U. Burghaus
Adsorption kinetics and dynamics of CO on silica supported Au nanoclusters-utilizing physical vapor-deposition and electron beam lithography Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 321 (2010) 101-109 by E. Kadossov, S. Cabrini, U. Burghaus
Joint Projects
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL): I. Lyubinetsky, L. Saraf, B.W. Arey
Argonne National Laboratory: R. Divan, L. Ocola
Brookhaven National laboratory: M. Lu
Berkeley Molecular Foundry (LBNL): S. Cabrini
Columbia University; N.Turro, B.White, S. O'Brien
NASA: G. Bozzolo, J.E. Garces (Argentina), K.W. Street, P.B. Abel
University of North Dakota (UND): M. Hoffmann, W. Seames
Erlangen-Nuernberg University (Germany): A. Ghicov, P. Schmuki
Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel): R. Tenne
Teaching collaborations; D. Ulness (Concordia College, MN), W. Lin, R.V. Pieri, E. Khan, C. Ulven (NDSU)
