Michael D. Amiridis

Professor & Provost

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 NO_x 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.

Education

• Diploma, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece ( 1985 )
• Ph. D., University of Wisconsin-Madison ( 1991 )

Selected Publications

• O.S. Alexeev, S.Y. Chin, M.H. Engelhard, L.B. Ortiz-Soto, and M.D. Amiridis, "Effects of Reduction Temperature and Metal - Support Interactions on the Catalytic Activity of Pt/_Y-Al₂O₃ and Pt/TiO₂ for the Oxidation of CO in the Presence and Absence of H₂," Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 109( 49 ), 23430 - 23443,
  ( 2005 )
• J. Lichtenberger, S.C. Hargrove - Leak and M.D. Amiridis, "In situ FTIR Study of the Adsorption and Reaction of 2'-Hydroxyacetophenone and Benzaldehyde on MgO", Journal of Catalysis, 238( 1 ), 165 - 176, ( 2006 )
• A. Siani, B.K. Captain, O.S. Alexeev, E. Stafyla, A.B. Hungria, P.A. Midgley, Sir J.M. Thomas, R.D. Adams and M.D. Amiridis, "Improved CO Oxidation Activity in the Presence and Absence of Hydrogen over Cluster-derived PtFe/SiO₂ Catalysts", Langmuir, 22( 11 ), 5160 - 5167, ( 2006 )
• O.S. Alexeev, A. Siani, G. Lafaye, C.T. Williams, H.J. Ploehn and M.D. Amiridis, "EXAFS Characterization of Dendrimer - Pt Nanocomposites Used for the Preparation of Pt/_Y-Al₂O₃ Catalysts", Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 110( 49 ), 24903 - 24914, ( 2006 )
• Y. Su, K.S. Kabin, M.P. Harold and M.D. Amiridis, "Reactor and in - situ FTIR studies of Pt/BaO/Al₂O₃ and Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃NOx Storage and Reduction ( NSR ) Catalysts", Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 71, 207 - 215, ( 2007 )