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        László Deák

           chemist       

   research associate

      

Scientific degree: PhD

         Address: Reaction Kinetics and Surface Chemistry Research Group

                       University of Szeged, Hungary

                       6720, Szeged, Dóm sqr. 7.

         Phone: +36-62-343586

         Phone/Fax: +36-62-420678

E-mail: sir@chem.u-szeged.hu     

 

Research interest:

I have been working in the Reaction Kinetics and Surface Chemistry Research Group from the university years. The model-systems of different heterogeneous reactions catalyzed by metals are investigated in the RKSCRG on single crystal metal and metal oxide surfaces under Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) conditions. The UHV analytical tools I have been using in these studies on the one hand belong to surface spectroscopic methods, which allow elemental (Auger Electron Spectroscopy; AES, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy; XPS) and molecular (High Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy, Reflexion Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy) identification of the surface intermediates and on the other hand to mass spectroscopic ones (Pulsed Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry, Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy, Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy), by which one can analyze the composition and quantities of gaseous products. By means of Field Emission Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy one can get information on the surface structure of substrate and adspecies at atomic resolution at best.

The above-mentioned UHV techniques have been used to study the elementary steps (adsorption, decomposition, diffusion, reaction and desorption) of heterogeneous catalytic processes. The investigated systems are the noble metal and Mo2C catalyzed surface reactions of simple molecules (like C2N2, H2O, NO, N2, CO, CO2, CnH2n-1I, etc.). The motivation of these studies was to establish the energetic, quantitative and kinetic parameters of heterogeneous catalytic reactions for either eliminating harmful compounds or synthesize more valuable products from small molecules. The effect of surface additives, like the electropositive (electron-sending) potassium and electronegative (electron-withdrawing) oxygen species was also studied.

To bridge the so-called material and complexity gap between model and real heterogeneous catalysts, the investigation of oxide-supported, nano-sized metal particles is also of interest. Beside XPS and AES, the highly surface sensitive Low Energy Ion Scattering is used to study the structural changes, wetting properties, thermal stability, etc. of bimetallic systems, like TiO2+Mo+Au, TiO2+Rh+Au, etc. The effect of atomically thin oxide layers, like TiOx and MoOx on the structure and catalytic activity of platinum metal (mostly rhodium) particles is being studied. The properties of metal-oxide-metal (MOM) structures are also investigated in relation to solar energy conversion.

 

Selected publications

 
 
Updated February 16, 2015.