Reaction-Driven Formation of Novel Active Sites on Catalytic Surfaces

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Professor Manos Mavrikakis, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Wednesday 15 October 2025, 14:30-15:30
• Dept of Chemistry, Unilever Lecture Theatre.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Lisa Masters.

Linnett Lecture

Adsorption of reactants and reaction intermediates on solid catalytic surfaces can lead to significant changes of the surface structure, including, as shown in high-pressure Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) experiments, ejection of metal atoms and formation of metal clusters while the reaction is taking place. Depending on the specific system, these clusters provide new, more favorable reaction paths than the typically considered active sites. In this talk, we will attempt to provide a more realistic picture of the catalyst’s surface and its active sites as a function of reaction conditions and the identity of reactants and that of key intermediates. Surface structure sensitivity, alloying, adsorbate coverage, and nanoparticle size effects will be discussed. These phenomena are directly related to nanoparticle sintering and have important consequences for catalyst stability. Insights derived from our analysis can inform the design of new catalysts with improved activity, selectivity, and stability characteristics.

This talk is part of the Chemistry Departmental-wide lectures series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Chemistry Departmental-wide lectures
• Department of Chemistry
• Dept of Chemistry, Unilever Lecture Theatre
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Featured lists
• Lennard-Jones Centre external
• School of Physical Sciences

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.