The general focus of our research is on chemical reactions at solid surfaces. This is a broad area relating to heterogeneous catalysis, electrochemistry, growth and characterization of semiconductor materials, erosion of polymeric coatings of satellites by atomic oxygen, and tribological behavior, among others.

Our work involves the development and advancement of ultrahigh vacuum surface characterization techniques. This approach provides us with the power to examine the composition, chemical states of the species present, and electronic structure of the near-surface region of a solid. They also allow us to examine the detailed chemistry that occurs at these surfaces.

We are currently developing novel heterogeneous catalysts based on nanotechnology for various reactions including low-temperature CO oxidation, methane oxidation, ethylene epoxidation, and higher-alcohol synthesis. These new catalysts perform much better than conventional materials with regard to activity, decay and selectivity. Our studies involve both reactor studies and characterization studies to gain fundamental information about the surface chemistry which occurs during the catalytic process.