Biomedical subjects

Henrik Topsøe

Publications and source records attributed to Henrik Topsøe.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cluster-support interactions and morphology of MoS2 nanoclusters in a graphite-supported hydrotreating model catalyst.

Supported MoS(2) nanoparticles constitute the active component of the important hydrotreating catalysts used for industrial upgrading and purification of the oil feedstock for the production of fossil fuels with a low environmental load. We have synthesized and studied a model system of the hydrotreating catalyst consisting of MoS(2) nanoclusters supported on a graphite surface in order to resolve a number of very fundamental questions related to the atomic-scale structure and morphology of the active clusters and in particular the effect of a substrate used in some types of hydrotreating catalysts. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to image the atomic-scale structure of graphite-supported MoS(2) nanoclusters in real space. It is found that the pristine graphite (0001) surface does not support a high dispersion of MoS(2), but by introducing a small density of defects in the surface, highly dispersed MoS(2) nanoclusters could be synthesized on the graphite. From high-resolution STM images it is found that MoS(2) nanoclusters synthesized at low temperature in a sulfiding atmosphere preferentially grow as single-layer clusters, whereas clusters synthesized at 1200 K grow as multilayer slabs oriented with the MoS(2)(0001) basal plane parallel to the graphite surface. The morphology of both single-layer and multilayer MoS(2) nanoclusters is found to be preferentially hexagonal, and atom-resolved images of the top facet of the clusters provide new atomic-scale information on the MoS(2)-HOPG bonding. The structure of the two types of catalytically interesting edges terminating the hexagonal MoS(2) nanoclusters is also resolved in atomic detail in STM images, and from these images it is possible to reveal the atomic structure of both edges and the location and coverage of sulfur and hydrogen adsorbates.

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PubMed2005

A density functional study of the chemical differences between Type I and Type II MoS2-based structures in hydrotreating catalysts.

Density functional theory is used to investigate the origin of the activity differences between Type I and Type II MoS2-based structures in hydrotreating catalysts. It is well known that the Type II structures, where only weak interactions with the support exist, have a higher catalytic activity than Type I structures, where Mo-O linkages to the alumina are present. The present results show that the differences in activities for MoS2 and Co-Mo-S structures can be attributed to the electronic and bonding differences introduced by the bridging O bonds. We find that the Mo-O linkages are most probably located on the (1010) S edge. The presence of oxygen linkages increases the energy required to form sulfur vacancies significantly so that almost no vacancies can be formed at these and neighboring sites. In this way, the reactivity of the S edge is reduced. In addition, the studies also show that the linkages introduce changes in the one-dimensional metallic-like brim states. Furthermore, the presence of oxygen linkages also changes the energetics of hydrogen adsorption, which becomes less exothermic on sulfur sites directly above linkages and more exothermic on sulfur sites adjacent to linkages. The present results explain previously observed differences in Type I-Type II transition temperatures for Co-Mo-S structures with different Co contents.

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PubMed2002

Atom-resolved imaging of dynamic shape changes in supported copper nanocrystals.

In situ transmission electron microscopy is used to obtain atom-resolved images of copper nanocrystals on different supports. These are catalysts for methanol synthesis and hydrocarbon conversion processes for fuel cells. The nanocrystals undergo dynamic reversible shape changes in response to changes in the gaseous environment. For zinc oxide-supported samples, the changes are caused both by adsorbate-induced changes in surface energies and by changes in the interfacial energy. For copper nanocrystals supported on silica, the support has negligible influence on the structure. Nanoparticle dynamics must be included in the description of catalytic and other properties of nanomaterials. In situ microscopy offers possibilities for obtaining the relevant atomic-scale insight.

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