Plasma-modified ferroelectric catalysts for plasma-assisted conversion of volatile organics (B15#)

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Technical Chemistry
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 327886311

Catalytic processes employing heterogeneous catalysts are considered to be the key drivers in the global transition of our fossil-based society towards a sustainable circular economy. To foster this transition development and implementation of non-traditional catalytic processes at solid interfaces, including plasma-driven and light-driven (photocatalytic) processes is essential, which also requests for new materials with tailored surface and bulk properties. Plasma-assisted modification is an emerging route to modify surface and bulk properties of semiconducting oxides and in turn alter their catalytic properties in catalytic (light-driven) processes. In this project detailed investigations of the influence of ambient pressure plasma induced modifications of surface and bulk properties, as compared to traditional modification strategies will be performed using BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles of different shape. By extensive characterization of surface and bulk properties of the prepared BTO nanoparticles using complementary techniques and their catalytic activities towards VOC conversion, an in-depth understanding of plasma-solid interactions will be developed and generally structure-activity correlations for plasma-treated BTO particles established. The project will provide further insights on the integration of plasmas with catalytic surfaces (area B) and is strongly linked to various projects of area A.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1316: Transient atmospheric plasmas - from plasmas to liquids to solids
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Bastian Mei