Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) Student Seminar Series
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 12-1pm CT
Ryan Hall, 4003 | 2190 Campus Drive
Join the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) for the Student Seminar Series. Hear from graduate students and postdoctoral scholars during two presentations. This month's speakers are Alexander Davis from the Swearer group and Matt Hayes from the Seitz and Broadbelt group.
About the Presentation
Speaker: Alexander Davis
Title: "Influence of flow on discharge behaviors and performance in gliding arc discharges"
Abstract:
Warm plasmas provide a catalyst-free route for scalable and continuous chemical synthesis; however, most studies have focused on single discharge events or small arrays to characterize plasma dynamics, resulting in limited reproducibility and a lack of standardized methodologies for describing these behaviors at scale. In this work, high-speed imaging of gliding arc discharges was used to develop diagnostic tools for quantifying arc-cycling stability, discharge intervals, and distinct arc formation and propagation behaviors directly from standard electrical waveforms. Using these metrics, multiple plasma modes were identified and characterized by their initiation type, speed, and prevalence, each exhibiting unique electrical signatures.
We systematically studied the influence of reactor geometry and flow rate on CO2 conversion to probe these behaviors over prolonged operation and to determine the interplay of production rate and efficiency across Reynolds numbers spanning laminar to highly turbulent flow. This approach aims to provide a universally applicable framework for analyzing discharge dynamics and demonstrates how plasma dynamics directly impact the scalability and optimization of gliding arc discharges. Moreover, by providing reproducible quantitative metrics and revealing the dominant role of flow in governing discharge behavior, this work establishes a universally applicable framework for standardized reporting and comparison of arc dynamics across the literature.
Speaker: Matthew Hayes
Title: "Selective Electrochemical Oxidation of Propylene in a Dual-Vapor-Fed Membrane Electrode Assembly Reactor"
Abstract:
Partially oxidized alkenes derived from propylene, including acrolein and acrylic acid, are critical intermediates in the production of acrylic polymers and commodity chemicals. Current industrial synthesis relies on high-temperature thermocatalytic oxidation processes that require significant energy input and suffer from limited selectivity due to overoxidation and competing reaction pathways. Direct electrochemical oxidation using water as the oxygen source offers a promising alternative, enabling milder operating conditions, potential-controlled selectivity, and integration with renewable electricity while co-producing hydrogen at the cathode. However, electrochemical alkene oxidation remains limited by low hydrocarbon solubility, mass transport limitations, and challenges in achieving high selectivity across complex product distributions.
Here, we present a combined experimental and computational investigation of propylene electrooxidation using a dual-vapor phase membrane electrode assembly (MEA) reactor, integrating reactor design, performance evaluation, and mechanistic insights toward scalable, electrified oxygenate production. In this architecture, humidified gas streams are supplied to both the anode and cathode, eliminating bulk liquid electrolytes and enabling high reactant concentrations at the catalyst interface for high current density operation. Independent control of water activity further provides a tunable handle to suppress oxygen evolution and enhance propylene oxidation selectivity. We evaluate the activity and selectivity of a cobalt oxide electrocatalyst supported on Ti felt with a dispersed ionomer layer toward allylic oxidation products. Reactor performance is examined as a function of relative humidity, reactant partial pressure, temperature, residence time, and pressure to identify key parameters governing activity, product distribution, and process efficiency.
Complementary plane-wave density functional theory calculations are used to investigate reaction pathways on Co3O4 surfaces. These calculations indicate that surface oxygen species promote radical-mediated pathways that favor allylic oxidation over competing vinylic functionalization, shifting selectivity from epoxide and glycol products toward acrolein and acrylic acid.
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The mission of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) is to promote interdisciplinary research fundamental to the discovery, synthesis, and understanding of catalysts and catalytic reactions essential to modern society. As a part of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, CCSS applies fundamental advances in catalysis science towards applications in alternative fuels, abatement of harmful emissions, resource recovery concepts, new processing routes, and many other strategies towards making chemicals more sustainable.
Tommy Baker
(847) 467-6043
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