Characterization of catalysts by optical spectroscopy under the real, or so-called operando reaction conditions. Specifically, I am interested in applying these techniques to photosensitive catalysts for photocatalytic splitting of water to H2 and O2. My research focuses on understanding the fundamental phenomena involved in the reaction rather than simply using a high throughput approach for discovering the best possible catalyst. Utilizing well-defined model catalysts and examining properties that deal with electron excitation, surface active sites and their structure, adsorption/desorption, reaction kinetics, and activity, I hope to gain insight which will lead to structure-photoactivity realtionships that can be applied to future rational design of novel photocatalytic materials.
Publications
Fundamental Bulk/Surface Structure – Photoactivity Relationships of Supported (Rh2-yCryO3)/GaN Photocatalysts, S. P. Phivilay, C. A. Roberts, A. A. Puretzky, K. Domen, and I. E. Wachs, JPC Letters, 2013, 4, 3719-3724.
Reporting of Reactivity for Heterogeneous Photocatalysis, I. E. Wachs, S. P. Phivilay, and C. A. Roberts, ACS Catalysis, 2013, 3, 2606-2611.
Monitoring Surface Metal Oxide Catalytic Active Sites with Raman Spectroscopy, Wachs, Israel E., Roberts, Charles A., Chemical Society Reviews, 2010, 39 (12), 5002-5017
Molecular Structural Determination of Molybdena in Different Environments: Aqueous Solutions, Bulk Mixed Oxides, and Supported MoO3 Catalysts, Hanjing Tian, Charles A. Roberts and Israel E. Wachs, J. Phys. Chem. C 2010, 114 (33), 14110–14120
Characterization of Hydrothermally Prepared Titanate Nanotube Powders by Ambient and In Situ Raman Spectroscopy, Kim, Sun-Jae; Yun, Yeong-Ung; Oh, Hyo-Jin; Hong, Sung Ho; Roberts, Charles A.; Routray, Kamalakanta; Wachs, Israel E., JPC Letters,
2010, 1, 130-135
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Oral Presentations
“Photocatalytic Properties of Nanostructured TiO2 Containing Materials for Splitting of H2O,” Charles A. Roberts, Alexander A. Puretzky, Somphonh Peter Phivilay, Sun-Jae Kim and Israel E. Wachs , March 2011, 241st ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA
“Fundamental Surface Structure-Photoactivity Relationships of Advanced Photocatalysts,” Somphonh Peter Phivilay, Charles A. Roberts, Xiaofang Yang, Guangzhi Frank Liu, Bruce Koel and Israel Wachs, March 2011, 241st ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA
"In Situ Time Resolved Spectroscopic Studies of Metal Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, and I. Wachs, June 2010, Applications of Raman Microscopy to Nanoscience Workshop, Argonne Nation Lab - Invited Speaker
"In Situ Time Resolved Spectroscopic Studies of Metal Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, and I. Wachs, June 2010, 21st International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering
"In Situ Time Resolved Spectroscopic Studies of Metal Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, and I. Wachs, March 2010, The 239th ACS National Meeting
"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, April 2009 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia April Meeting - Invited Speaker
"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, November 2008- AIChE Annual Meeting (Philadelphia, PA)
Poster Presentations
"In Situ ATR-FTIR Study of Photocatalytic Reactions Over TiO2 and Supported TiOx Nanodomains," C. Roberts, C.-C. Yang, S. P. Phivilay, G. Mul,
and I. E. Wachs, November 17th, 2011, The Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Student Poster Competition
"In Situ Time Resolved Spectroscopic Studies of Metal Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay,
and I. Wachs, March 2010, The Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Student Poster Competition
"In Situ Time Resolved Spectroscopic Studies of Metal Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay,
and I. Wachs, March 2010, The Catalysis Society of Metropolitan New York Spring Symposium
"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, March 2009 - Catalysis Society of Metroplitan New York Spring Symposium
"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, March 2009 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Annual Poster Contest
"Photocatalytic Structure-Activity Relationship of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, E. Berrier, H. Vezin, E. Payen, & I. Wachs, June 2008 - Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis
"Photocatalytic Structure-Activity Relationship of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, E. Berrier, H. Vezin, E. Payen, & I. Wachs, March 2008 - Catalysis Society of Metroplitan New York Spring Symposium
"Photocatalytic Structure-Activity Relationship of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, E. Berrier, H. Vezin, E. Payen, & I. Wachs, March 2008 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Annual Poster Contest
"Investigating the Volcano Curve Correlation for Formic Acid Decomposition on Bulk Metal Catalysts," C. Roberts & I. Wachs, June 2007 - 20th North American Catalysis Society
"Investigating the Volcano Curve Correlation for Formic Acid Decomposition on Bulk Metal Catalysts," C. Roberts & I. Wachs, March 2007 - Catalysis Society of Metroplitan New York Spring Symposium
"Investigating the Volcano Curve Correlation for Formic Acid Decomposition on Bulk Metal Catalysts," C. Roberts & I. Wachs, March 2007 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Annual Poster Contest
Awards
Gotshall Fellowship - Lehigh University
Kokes Award - 20th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Houston
