Model Systems in Heterogeneous Catalysis at the Atomic Scale

Title

Model Systems in Heterogeneous Catalysis at the Atomic Scale

Speaker

Prof. Hans-Joachim Freund

Fritz-Haber-Institut of the Max-Planck Society, Berlin, Germany

Time and Location

19:00-20:00 (Beijing Time), 14:00-15:00 (Israel Time), May 12, 2025 (Monday), GTIIT Auditorium, South Campus

Zoom

https://gtiit.zoom.us/j/9630844007?omn=93573162620

Abstract

After a general introduction to the model system approach, the talk covers three concrete examples with respect to its use.

Firstly, the activation of CO2 will be investigated, which has been a topic of interest in surface science and catalysis for decades. As one of the important activation mechanisms, electron-transfer from the substrate to the CO2 molecule has been identified.  Of particular interest has been the activation at oxide supported nanoparticles. A study on oxide supported Au nanoparticles, revealing details, in this connection will be presented.

A second example concerns the general topic of modelling reactions in confined space, as they typically are observed, for example, in Zeolites. A silica film only bound by dispersive forces to a metal surface will be used as a model, which allows to follow the reaction in detail, both with respect to structure and its kinetics.

The third example examines the interaction of hydrogen with Ceria, and its well defined defects, leading to surface oxidation via the formation of hydrides, which then may be used for hydrogenation reactions.

Bio

Hans-Joachim Freund is a scientific member at the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin where he was the head of the Department of Chemical Physics from 1995 until March 2019. The department was dedicated to the study of model catalysts, ap-plying a large number of techniques and instruments, some of which were newly developed within the department to investigate oxide surfaces and oxide metal interfaces. He serves as Adjunct Professor at five universities in Germany and UK. He received awards in Europe, the US, and Asia. Hajo Freund is a member of seven Academies including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds three honorary Doctorates. He received the Gaede-Langmuir Award of the American Vacu-um Society and is the recipient of the 2015 Michel Boudart for the Advancement of Catalysis by the North American Catalysis Society and the European Federation of Catalysis Societies. In 2019 he received the prestigious ACS Award in Surface Chemistry.

Hajo Freund is Fellow of the American Physical Society and American Vacuum Society and has published more than 860 scientific papers with more than 61.000 citations and given about 830 invited talks. He has held a number of named lectureships around the world. He has educated more than 150 PhD students and collaborated with more than 80 postdoctoral associates (see https://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/cp/hjf.epl).

Free pizza will be provided!