Brief Self Biography – Received B.S. Chemical Engineering at UNM in the Fall 2005. Continued education at UNM as a graduate student in the Spring 06’ under advisement from Abhaya Datye. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering focused in the area of catalysis.
Research Interests Description–
My research focuses on automobile catalysts (catalysts in a typical auto catalytic converter). These catalysts are typically made out of expensive noble metals that add on cost to the buyer. When these catalysts are subject to extreme temperatures (900C or higher) and are in contact with gases they will sinter. Sintering (when the catalyst particles agglomerate together) causes an overall loss of activity and the catalysts effectiveness. I am interested in the mechanisms of growth and overall deactivation of these precious metal catalysts on porous supports (powders) and model supports (flat wafers). To obtain information on the catalyst, many forms of characterization are needed. Some of the instruments I use are High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Currently I am using an In-Situ TEM that allows the inlet of gases into a HRTEM during the characterization and experimental process. Research in the sintering area of catalysis can give insight into mechanisms that control and enhance sintering of precious noble metal catalysts.
Images of Pt particles on a Al2O3 support before (2-3nm) and after (11nm) heating in air.
To see details of Andrew's internship in Denmark, click here.
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