Mardi 4 juillet 2023 à 14h30 – Seminar « Bifunctional interfaces for the catalytic transformation of C1 molecules » by Wen LIU, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

 Lieu : Salle UMR, 1er étage B27, IC2MP

Pr. Wen (Paul) LIU is a visiting professor at IC2MP in MediaCat team.

 

Bifunctional interfaces for the catalytic transformation of C1 molecules

Wen (Paul) LIU – NTU, Singapore

Wen LIU

School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University

 

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalysts often consist of transition metals deposited on support materials, which can be oxides, carbides, carbon materials, polymers, zeolites, MOFs, etc. While metals are often regarded as the active sites in classical heterogeneous catalysis, e.g. for hydrogenation, dehydrogenation and oxidation reactions, the catalytic role of supports are also widely recognised. Recently, the emerging need to catalyst more challenging chemical transformations, e.g. CO₂ and CH₄ activation has triggered the development of bifunctional catalytic materials, in which both the metal and the support play active roles during the catalysis. In this talk, we discuss three case studies of bifunctional catalytic interfaces: (1) the tuning of metal-support interface as the active sites for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol, (2) the investigation of dual function materials for both CO₂ capture and conversion and (3) a peculiar noble metal-transition metal boride strong metal support interaction, in which the metal enhances the catalytic activity of the support for formic acid dehydrogenation in aqueous phase.

 

Short bio

Dr Wen (Paul) Liu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University. He graduated with B.A, M.Eng and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge. He specialises in high temperature reaction engineering, in particular chemical looping, CO2 capture and CO₂ conversion. Liu has received research awards including the RSC Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, Outstanding Young Principal Investigator of AIChE, Singapore Local Section, and the Danckwert-Pergamon Prize for best chemical engineering Ph.D. thesis. He has over 65 peer-reviewed journal publications and an H-index of 26. His research dedication in carbon capture and utilization has attracted >6.8 million Singapore dollars of research funding. Outside NTU, Liu holds several leadership positions in academic and professional organizations, including Vice President of the Singapore Catalysis Society and the Convenor of the Singapore’s Working Group to develop standard for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage.