
Tunable Control of Bimetal Alloys from Geo-Inspired Perovskite Oxides
Geo-inspired perovskite materials, those within a select family of perovskite oxides, use the ionic transport of metal dopants to form nanoparticles under a reducing environment. The nanoparticles formed are inherently thermally stable, and the rich defect chemistry of these perovskite oxides can be used to tailor the size and composition of bimetallic alloy nanoparticles. The project encompasses fundamental insights into the exsolution of Ni-based bimetallic nanoparticles using bulk defect engineering, in situ spectroscopic and microscopic studies.
Geo-inspired perovskite materials, those within a select family of perovskite oxides, use the ionic transport of metal dopants to form nanoparticles under a reducing environment. The nanoparticles formed are inherently thermally stable, and the rich defect chemistry of these perovskite oxides can be used to tailor the size and composition of bimetallic alloy nanoparticles. The project encompasses fundamental insights into the exsolution of Ni-based bimetallic nanoparticles using bulk defect engineering, in situ spectroscopic and microscopic studies.

CAREER: In-situ Capture and Conversion of CO2 to Hydrocarbons
Over the past decades, global emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), have risen steadily, thus creating an urgent need for technology capable of capturing and/or converting those molecules to higher-value chemicals. The project investigates the effectiveness of perovskite materials to serve the dual function of capturing CO2 and catalyzing its conversion to hydrocarbons by reaction with CH4.
Over the past decades, global emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), have risen steadily, thus creating an urgent need for technology capable of capturing and/or converting those molecules to higher-value chemicals. The project investigates the effectiveness of perovskite materials to serve the dual function of capturing CO2 and catalyzing its conversion to hydrocarbons by reaction with CH4.

In Operando Study of Fe2O3/g-Al2O3, and CeO2/g-Al2O3 for the Rapid Thermocatalytic Degradation of Chemical Warfare Agents (MSEE Young Investigator Award)
The study uses in operando IR spectroscopy to develop the use of mixed oxide nanocomposites for the degradation of chemical warfare agents. Such materials are being considered for use during CWA defeat events to help neutralize and defeat chemical warfare agents. The incorporation of reducible oxides onto γ-Al2O3 is expected to lower the barrier for forming mobile lattice oxygen which would promote the degradation of CWA.
The study uses in operando IR spectroscopy to develop the use of mixed oxide nanocomposites for the degradation of chemical warfare agents. Such materials are being considered for use during CWA defeat events to help neutralize and defeat chemical warfare agents. The incorporation of reducible oxides onto γ-Al2O3 is expected to lower the barrier for forming mobile lattice oxygen which would promote the degradation of CWA.