Michael D. Amiridis

Professor and Dean

Our research interests are in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and chemical kinetics. In particular, our efforts focus on the development of a fundamental understanding of how heterogeneous catalysts work, leading to new synthetic strategies for improved catalytic materials. Our recent work examines the synthesis of new bimetallic catalysts with controlled nanostructures through cluster and dendrimer routes, and the application of such catalysts for the selective oxidation of CO in the presence of hydrogen and the reduction of NOx under lean conditions. We have been also studying the catalytic destruction of chlorinated aromatic compounds over supported transition metal oxides and the heterogeneous synthesis of flavanones over acidic and basic catalysts.

Dr. Amiridis’ group develops expertise in a variety of experimental techniques, such as kinetic and temperature-programmed studies, chemisorptive measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopies, X-ray diffraction. Through successive collaborations with several national laboratories (ORNL, BNL and PNNL) we also have access to highly specialized equipment allowing to characterize the nanostructure of catalytic materials. Finally, we have a long history of collaborating with industry. Currently industrially sponsored efforts in our group are focused on the characterization of purification catalysts and the reduction of nitrogen oxides.