MOLECULAR DESIGN OF SUPPORTED METAL-OXIDE CATALYSTS - AN INITIAL STEP TO THEORETICAL-MODELS

Molecular design of supported metal oxide catalysts is now possible from molecular level information obtained from Raman spectroscopy and the methanol oxidation reaction. The important factors that influence the molecular design of the supported metal oxide catalysts are the specific oxide support and the specific surface metal oxide. The structure or modification of the oxide support, however, has no effects on the surface metal oxide structure and reactivity. The surface coverage of the specific surface metal oxide, however, influences the reactivity during the methanol oxidation reaction. The synthesis method is not critical since it does not influence the surface metal oxide structure or reactivity. Calcination temperature is not important as long as moderate temperatures (350-500-degrees-C) are used. The current fundamental information available about the physical and chemical characteristics of the supported metal oxide catalysts provides a foundation for theoretical models to be developed with respect to their solid-solid and solid-gas interactions.