Title: Synthesis of Faceted Metal Oxides with Unique Surface Properties in Catalysis and Carbon Capture
Abstract: The ability to manipulate earth abundant metal oxides presents an important potential technology to develop sustainable materials with novel properties. These materials are of interest due to the coordination environments that can be achieved and to the high degree of control over properties that can result from tailoring the exposed facets and from mixing metal oxides. The Richards’ research group has developed techniques to produce a number of new nanoscale metal and metal oxide materials that have demonstrated unique surface activities through controlled faceting as well as novel intercalation strategies that impart robustness. The initial synthesis of MgO and NiO with (111) facets as the primary surface has been followed by recent work utilizing a multiscale characterization platform to discover the underlying phenomena associated with the electrolytic properties of NiO(111) for Li ion batteries and electrochromics. Joint experimental-theoretical work with collaborators unravelled the potential of (111) polar surfaces for carbon capture. Most recently, in-situ microscopy studies have revealed insights into the NiO active sites and the effects of doping on electrolysis. Here, recent highlights regarding these materials and their applications will be presented.
Bio: Ryan M. Richards is a University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science at the Colorado School of Mines (Mines) and holds a joint appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) both in Golden, Colorado USA.
Prof. Richards received his BS from Michigan State University, MS Central Michigan University and Phd from Kansas State University (advisor Kenneth Klabunde). During his Phd studies he was a visiting scientist at the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis in Novosibirsk, Russia. From 2000-2002 he was Max Planck Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung in Mülheim (advisors Helmut Bönnemann and Ferdi Schüth), Germany. In 2002 Ryan joined the International University of Bremen (later changed to Constructor University) where he was promoted to associate professor before moving to Mines in 2007. The Richards group has made a broad range of contributions to the field of inorganic nanoscience in the areas of nanoparticle preparations (metal and metal oxides), in situ spectroscopy, porous materials and catalysis. Prof. Richards has published more than 160 papers, 7 patents and has served as editor/co-editor of 3 nanoscience books. He has received numerous awards throughout his career including being selected as a Fellow of the American Chemical Society, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023-2024 Fulbright Scholar and 2023 Colorado School of Mines Faculty Senate Distinguished Lecturer. Prof. Richards also serves as Associate Editor for both RSC Advanced Interfaces and the journal Essential Chem.
Keywords: Nanostructured, Surface Engineering, Catalysis
Host: Prof. Ive Hermans