New insights on the stereodynamics of ethylene adsorption on an oxygen-precovered silver surface

Removal of ethylene from air stream by adsorption and plasma-catalytic oxidation using silver-based bimetallic catalysts supported on zeolite

Dynamic adsorption of ethylene on 13X zeolite-supported Ag and Ag-M(x)O(y) (M: Co, Cu, Mn, and Fe), and plasma-catalytic oxidation of the adsorbed ethylene were investigated. The experimental results showed that the incorporation of Ag into zeolite afforded a marked enhancement in the adsorptivity for ethylene. The addition of transition metal oxides was found to have a positive influence on the ethylene adsorption, except Fe(x)O(y). The presence of the additional metal oxides, however, appeared to somewhat interrupt the diffusion of ozone into the zeolite micro-pores, leading to a decrease in the plasma-catalytic oxidation efficiency of the ethylene adsorbed there. Among the second additional metal oxides, Fe(x)O(y) was able to reduce the emission of ozone during the plasma-catalytic oxidation stage while keeping a high effectiveness for the oxidative removal of the adsorbed ethylene. The periodical treatment consisting of adsorption followed by plasma-catalytic oxidation may be a promising energy-efficient ethylene abatement method.

Selective production of reactive and nonreactive oxygen atoms on Pd(001) by rotationally aligned oxygen molecules

Sticking together: The occupation of different sites by oxygen atoms that are produced by the dissociation of O(2) on Pd(100) is determined by the initial rotational alignment of the parent molecules. The atom locations are characterized by different chemical reactivities in the reaction with CO to form CO(2) (see picture), which are followed by synchrotron radiation (SR) experiments with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB).

Observed molecular alignment in gaseous streams and possible chiral effects in vortices and in surface scattering

Extensive work in this laboratory has been devoted to the study of intermolecular interactions from scattering experiments, in order to provide ingredients for modelling forces acting in systems involving hydrocarbons, the components of atmospheres, and water. Our detection of aligned oxygen in gaseous streams and further evidence on simple molecules has been extended to benzene and various hydrocarbons. Chiral effects can be seen in the differential scattering of oriented molecules, in particular from surfaces. It is pointed out that it may be of pre-biotical interest that we focus on possible mechanisms for chiral bio-stereochemistry of oriented reactants, for example when flowing in atmospheres of rotating bodies, specifically the planet earth, as well as in vortex motions of celestial objects. Molecular dynamics simulations and experimental verifications are in progress.