X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Studies of Defective Ceria Supported Ni-Zn and Fe-Zn Catalysts

We like to study how the defect sites in ceria and active metal sites activate CO2 and dissociate H2. Why is bimetallic performing better than monometallic? This information is critical to understand the mechanism and why such dramatic improvement in activity was observed, and XAS studies will help us answer these questions. We will carry out a multi-edge (Ce L3, Fe, Ni, Zn) HERFD-XAS study to understand the modification of the electronic structure as a function of the sample composition, sample morphology and under in situ conditions. Particularly interesting are the 2p-4f transitions into the Ce L3 pre-edge that reveal the number of 4f electrons.