9:04 a.m., Sept. 17, 2008----A group of researchers led by Jingguang Chen, the Claire D. LeClaire Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware, has received funding from the Department of Energy for catalysis research using facilities at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The $1 million, three-year grant will enable continuation of work initiated with a previous DOE grant to promote the use of synchrotron techniques for research on catalysis under in-situ conditions.

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“Because of the high intensity and tunability of the synchrotron source,” Chen says, “synchrotron spectroscopies often demonstrate unique advantages over conventional techniques, including higher detection sensitivity and molecular specificity, faster detection rate, and more in-depth information about structural, electronic and catalytic properties under actual reaction conditions.”

Co-principal investigators on the grant are Anatoly Frenkel, professor of physics at Yeshiva University, and Radoslav Adzic, senior chemist at BNL. In addition, Nebojsa Marinkovic, a research staff member in Chen's research group, will be on location full-time at BNL to work on the project.

Catalysis, which has played a significant role in the chemical and petroleum industries over the past several decades, has recently been applied to a number of new areas, including environmental and bioengineering applications. With the current grant and other DOE and National Science Foundation funding, Chen and colleagues are investigating the use of less-expensive, more stable catalytic materials for applications ranging from fuel cells to biomass utilization.

The University of Delaware has had an active and vital research program in catalysis since the Center for Catalytic Science and Technology (CCST) was founded in 1978. Chen served as CCST Director from 2000 through 2007.

Article by Diane Kukich