In addition to its annual lectures, ChBE hosts a weekly seminar throughout the year with invited lecturers who are prominent in their fields. Unless otherwise noted, all seminars are held on Wednesdays in the Molecular Science and Engineering Building ("M" Building) in G011 (Cherry Logan Emerson Lecture Theater) at 4 p.m. Refreshments are served at 3:30 p.m. in the Emerson-Lewis Reception Salon.

_____________

“Targeted Design and Synthesis of New Catalysts for Cleaner Energy Processes”

Jason Hicks, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame

Abstract:

As petroleum resources decrease and the desire for cleaner, more sustainable energy production increases, technologies capable of utilizing alternative feedstocks to produce current types of liquid transportation fuels and chemicals will become vitally important.   Research in the Hicks group has focused on the design and synthesis of catalysts with tunable and/or controllable chemical, structural, and surface properties to generate new materials that effectively and efficiently upgrade various renewable and petroleum-based feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. This presentation will highlight our work synthesizing silica- and polymer tethered catalysts, Ce-incorporated zeolites, bimetallic transition metal phosphide catalysts, and metal-organic framework catalysts for a variety of important reactions: CO2 reduction, ketonization of carboxylic acids, and biomass deoxygenation. Particular focus will be given to discussion of the relationships between catalyst structures and properties through detailed characterization and reactivity studies of these well-defined heterogeneous catalysts.