IRT1: Atomic-Level Control in Materials Development for Catalysis and Adsorption

IRT 1 Members

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Dr. Nelson Cardona Martínez

Co- PI for IRT 1 and program director for Education and Outreach.

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Yomaira J. Pagán Torres

Dr. Yomaira J. Pagán Torres is a professor from the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus.

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Arturo J. Hernández Maldonado

Dr. Arturo J. Hernández Maldonado is a professor from the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus.

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Maria C. Curet

Dr. Maria C. Curet is an assitant professor from the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus.

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Emmanouil Mavrikakis

Dr. Emmanouili Mavrikakis is a professor from the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the Univerisity of Wsconsin.

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Paul G. Evans

Dr. Paul G. Evans is a professor from the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin, where he is also chair of graduate students.

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Susan E. Babcock

Dr. Susan E. Babcock is a professor from the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin.

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Thomas F. Kuech

Dr, Thomas F. Kuech is a professor from Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin.

Description

IRT 1: 

Atomic-Level Control in Materials Development for Catalysis and Adsorption is a project directed by Dr. Nelson Cardona from the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus (UPRM) and Paul Evans from the University of Wisconsin (UW).

Goal:

Combine computational chemistry, advanced synthesis, state-of-the art characterization techniques, adsorption studies, and reaction kinetics to understand the impact of controllable-subnanometer surface modifications for the creation of materials with advanced catalitic and absorption properties Using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), a synthesis technique that allows precise creation of atomic-scale chemically active sites.

Divided in two groups:

Design of catalytic materials with controlled sites by ALD

Team: Dr. Pagán, Dr. Kuech, Dr. Mavrikakis, Dr. Babock and Dr. Cardona.

Flexible Porous Coordination Polymers for Gas Capture

Team: Dr. Hernández, Dr. Evans, Dr. Kuech, and Dr. Curet

Accomplishments:

In Y6, IRT 1 accomplished three (3) publications2,8, 11 five (5) conference contributions12-16, two (2) patent applications9, 10, one (1) UPRM PhD student graduated, and participation of one (1) teacher part of the RET program aligned to IRT-1 efforts.

References:

(1) O’Neill, B. J.; Jackson, D. H. K.; Lee, J.; Canlas, C.; Stair, P. C.; Marshall, C. L.; Elam, J. W.; Kuech, T. F.; Dumesic, J. A.; Huber, G. W. Catalyst Design with Atomic Layer Deposition. ACS Catalysis 2015, 5 (3), 1804-1825.

(2) Bhat, S.; Nikolla, E.; Pagan-Torres, Y. J. Strategies for designing the catalytic environment beyond the active site of heterogeneous supported metal catalysts. Topics in Catalysis 2023, 16, 1217.

(3) Chu, M.; Liu, Y.; Lou, X.; Zhang, Q.; Chen, J. Rational Design of Chemical Catalysis for Plastic Recycling. ACS Catalysis 2022, 12 (8), 4659-4679. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c01286.

(4) He, M.; Sun, Y.; Han, B. Green Carbon Science: Efficient Carbon Resource Processing, Utilization, and Recycling towards Carbon Neutrality. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2022, 61 (15), e202112835. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202112835.

(5) Mark, L. O.; Cendejas, M. C.; Hermans, I. The Use of Heterogeneous Catalysis in the Chemical Valorization of Plastic Waste. ChemSusChem 2020, 13 (22), 5808-5836. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202001905.

(6) Jiang, X.; Nie, X.; Guo, X.; Song, C.; Chen, J. G. Recent Advances in Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation to Methanol via Heterogeneous Catalysis. Chemical Reviews 2020, 120 (15), 7984-8034. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00723.

(7) Kattel, S.; Liu, P.; Chen, J. G. Tuning Selectivity of CO2 Hydrogenation Reactions at the Metal/Oxide Interface. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2017, 139 (29), 9739-9754. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b05362.

(8) Al Abdulghani, A. J.; Turizo-Pinilla, E. E.; Fabregas-Angulo, M. J.; Hagmann, R. H.; Ibrahim, F.; Jansen, J. H.; Agbi, T. O.; Bhat, S.; Sepúlveda-Pagán, M.; Kraimer, M. O.; et al. Realizing synergy between Cu, Ga, and Zr for selective CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy 2024, 355, 124198. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124198.

(9) Catalytic Method for the Production of Difructose Anhydride, U.S. Patent Application U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 63/508,698, 2023.

(10) Processes for the Preparation of Anhydrosugars. U.S. Patent Disclosure 24-0788-US-PRO, 2024.

(11) Tous-Granados, A. M.; Hernandez-Maldonado, A. J. A SIFSIX-MOF constructed from a metalloligand yields enhanced stability for selective CO2 adsorption. Chemical Communications 2023, 59 (66), 10020-10023, 10.1039/D3CC02683C. DOI: 10.1039/D3CC02683C.

(12) Hortal-Sánchez, I.; Cardona-Martinez, N. Biomass: Fueling the Caribbean’s leap to a sustainable economy. In Annual Conference of the AAAS Caribbean Division, Puerto Rico; 2023.

(13) Hortal-Sánchez, I.; Ibrahim, F.; Lebron-Rodriguez, E.; Hermans, I.; Cardona-Martinez, N. Effect of water absence on C6 carbohydrates catalytic conversion on Beta zeolites. In AbbVie Pharmaceutical Limited Poster Session Puerto Rico 2023.

(14) Hortal-Sánchez, I.; Cardona-Martinez, N. Conversion of aldohexoses and ketohexoses to value-added molecules using polar aprotic solvents and water as solvents and acid Beta zeolites as catalysts. In ENGICHEM, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; 2024.

(15) Pagan-Torres, Y. J. Tuning Heterogeneous Catalyst Surfaces for Chemical Conversions. In University of Alabama Invited Seminar Alabama; November 2023.

(16) Fabregas-Angulo, M. J.; Al Abdulghani, A.; Hokulea Hagmann, R.; Sepulved, M.; Nikolla, E.; Hermans, I.; Pagan Torres, Y. J. Kinetic studies of Cu-based metal oxide catalysts for carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methanol In ENGICHEM, Puerto Rico 2024.