Technische Universität München
Professur für Functional Nanomaterials (Prof. Lechner)
Lichtenbergstr. 4
85748 Garching b. München
Functional Nanomaterials
Our research focusses on gaining a fundamental understanding of dynamic processes in functional nanomaterials. In heterogeneous catalysis, for example, the catalyst and support restructure continuously during a reaction. With movie-rate scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at elevated temperatures, near-ambient pressures and in different reactive gas atmospheres, we follow dynamic processes directly to investigate systematically the formation and decay of highly reactive particle structures and how such restructuring influences reactivity. Synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to gain complementary information on chemical composition, oxidation and charge state. By using small size-selected metal clusters, we disentangle size effects and identify internally dynamic cluster sizes (see research overview).
Journal of Catalysis
Abstract: An unconventional reaction mechanism in an In2O3/Pd(1 1 1) inverse model catalyst for the CO2 hydrogenation reaction has been uncovered: In2O3 is partially reduced at room temperature in a reaction…
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Abstract: Platinum particles on reducible oxides are known to form complex and highly dynamic catalyst systems at elevated pressures and temperatures, often adopting active structures that differ from those…
ACS Catalysis
Abstract: Ceria has recently regained attention in catalysis research, thanks to its ability to reversibly form and redisperse supported, catalytically active Pt clusters through control of its surface…
Measurement Science and Technology
Abstract: Scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) give a unique atomic-scale insight into surface dynamics in different environments. To access fast dynamics, we have recently presented a FastSPM add-on module based…
Surface Science
Abstract: Surfaces and interfaces of functional nanoscale materials are typically highly dynamic when employed at elevated temperatures. Both, lateral surface and vertical bulk exchange diffusion processes set…
Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Topics in Catalysis
Abstract: The conversion of reactants, reaction rate referred to catalyst mass, and turnover frequency (TOF) are values typically employed to compare the activity of different catalysts. However, experimental…
Frontiers in Chemistry
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Abstract: Ultrathin two-dimensional silica films have been suggested as highly defined conductive models for fundamental studies on silica-supported catalyst particles. Key requirements in this context are…
Nanoscale
Abstract: The interaction of catalyst particles with reducible support materials can drastically change their reactivity. On rutile TiO2, processes like particle encapsulation (caused by the “strong…
