Methusalem Funding > Catalyst design by Assembly of Single Active Sites (CASAS)
Catalyst design by Assembly of Single Active Sites (CASAS)
Coordinator |
Prof. Johan Martens |
|---|---|
Methusalem Group
| Prof. Dirk De Vos Prof. Christine Kirschhock |
Centre |
|
Starting date |
October 1st 2008 |
Financing |
EUR 1.000.000 per year |
Summary
At the centre of the project is a new catalysis research concept, viz. the design of catalysts by assembly of single active sites (CASAS). In situ observation of working catalysts at the single molecule or site level enables identification of those sites on working catalysts that really contribute to catalytic turnover. Fluorescence microscopy is an excellent tool for this, and future multidiagnostic techniques with improved spatial resolution will refine our insights. The active sites will be molecularly engineered into nanoparticles to provide superior activity and selectivity. Next, the engineered nanoparticles are integrated in meso- or macrostructured catalyst bodies via concepts of supramolecular self-assembly. The CASAS project has three major scientific targets: (1) realization of successful catalysis innovation chains for application in chemo- and biomimetic catalysis, for today’s major catalytic challenges in the area of photocatalysis and for conversion of (bio)polymers to chemicals or energy; (2) new in-situ multidiagnostic tools with improved temporal and spatial resolution and development of highly specialized forms of microscopy for addressing individual catalytic sites at a molecular level; (3) skills in exploiting supramolecular interactions for directing the assembly of nanoparticle borne single sites into 2- and 3-dimensional (an)isotropic arrays for application in reactors ranging from lab-on-chip to intensified large-scale catalytic unit operations.
Motivation by the University Board