Understanding reaction mechanisms within the heterogeneous catalyst Cu-SSZ13

Heterogeneous catalysts play an important role in much of the chemicals that we make and in turn can provide environmentally friendly solutions; changing harmful greenhouse gases into useable molecules. This proposal focuses on the system Cu-SSZ13 (chabazite), where Cu(II) clusters are embedded within the alumina-silicate zeolite structure. These Cu(II) clusters are responsible for the methane to methanol conversion process and at high temperatures are believed to undergo a form of diffusion. This work seeks to understand whether this is true and what this diffusion process may be.