In heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic performance of a catalyst is closely related to the surface electronic structure of the catalyst. Thus, we are interested in understanding the fundamental relationships between the electronics of catalysts and their catalytic properties. The current research activities of surface and interfacial catalysis group focus on the electron chemistry in interface catalysis. We are employing various surface physical and chemical techniques, including XPS, UPS, ISS, AES, STM/AFM, HREELS, TPD, PEEM, as well as theoretical tools.
Model catalyst systems are designed and fabricated at atomic or nano scale such that the surface electronic structure of the model catalysts can be well controlled by the nanofabrication technique. The catalytic performance of the model catalysts are characterized by in-situ surface reaction or adsorption experiments. We try to derive qualitative or quantitative relationships between electronics of catalysts and surface catalytic performance.