Interaction of propene, styrene, and phenyl-1-propene with oxygen-sputtered gold surfaces

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Volkmar Zielasek
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2007 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 55764628

The interaction of propene, styrene, and phenyl-1-propene with oxygen- and Arsputtered Au(111) surfaces shall be investigated by STM and by TPR/TPD spectroscopy in order to determine adsorption sites and energies as well as reaction pathways and products. The goal of the project is two-fold: 1) The influence of lowcoordinated surface sites at steps and kinks shall be evaluated by a detailed comparison with previous TPR experiments performed by C.M. Friend et al. on relatively smooth oxygen-covered Au(111) surfaces. 2) The potential of nanoporous gold foams as catalysts for olefin epoxidation shall be marked out by using the sputtered Au surfaces as model. The project will initiate a cooperation between the groups of C.M. Friend at Harvard University and of M. Bäumer/V. Zielasek at the University of Bremen.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants