NANOSTRUCTURED OXIDE CATALYSTS FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
WG3 members: José C. Conesa, Arturo Martínez-Arias, Manuel Monte, Cindy L. Bolívar
homepage: www.icp.csic.es
The group studies since 25 years systems based on high surface area CeO2 for three-way catalysts, hydrogen production, fuel cells or solar energy use. Types of studies pursued are:
– Multitechnique characterization (XRD, Raman, HRTEM, NMR, EPR, IR, UV-Vis, XAFS, etc., also in operando mode) and theoretical modelling.
– Metal-support interactions in CeO2 based systems, studying initially SMSI effects and more recently synergetic effects in CuO-CeO2 systems.
– Extension of the studies to complex oxides based on CeO2 (including monolithic catalysts) or TiO2 (as redox support or for photocatalysis).
– Synthesis of nanostructured oxides using coprecipitation within microemulsions, to get high homogeneity in particle size and composition, or hydrothermal preparation to control surface morphologies and OH groups.
One of the group members (J.C. Conesa) develops also novel solar energy harvesting materials (oxidic or not) to be used in photovoltaics, photocatalysis and artificial photosynthesis.
CeO2-based systems: ceria nanocubes obtained hydrothermally, improvement of selectivity in CO-PROX process when using such nanocubes in CuO/CeO2 catalysts and model of these used in DFT studies.
