Gas-solid interaction and its influence in electronic structure and catalysis: a near ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy study

Abstract

Chemistry at a catalyst surface i.e. response of the catalyst for structure and electronic change during catalysis, and gas-solid interaction of catalyst and reactant is very crucial for the fundamental understanding of a catalytic process. Tracking surface phenomenon during catalysis can shed light on the surface electronic structure, catalyst nature and provides a fundamental correlation between catalytic performance and possible pathways, which helps to design a catalyst in a better way. NAPPES is a powerful tool that is inherently surface sensitive, and chemical-specific, with the ability to probe sample surfaces as well as reactants at pressures closer to ambient pressure. Hence it has potential to provide remarkable outputs in the field of environmental chemistry and catalysis. The present thesis work has been devoted to bridging the material and pressure gap in between surface science under ideal conditions and real-world catalysis conditions. A sincere attempt has been made to understand the solid-gas interaction and its application to heterogeneous catalysis by utilizing NAPPES.