Christopher T. WilliamsPhone 803.777.0143
Fax 803.777.8265
E-mail
2C15 Swearingen Chemical Engineering University of South Carolina 301 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29208
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Christopher T. Williams
Associate Professor
The
Williams group research interests are in the area of heterogeneous
catalysis and surface science, with a particular focus on studying
solid-liquid catalytic interfaces. Our primary research involves the
development and application of in-situ or operando
surface vibrational spectroscopic methods to study adsorption and
catalysis at solid catalyst surfaces under industrially relevant
reaction conditions (i.e., in the liquid phase and/or at high gas
pressures and temperatures). Specific techniques under development in
our group include surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS),
attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, and
sum-frequency spectroscopy (SFS). The information obtained with these
approaches allows us to develop a molecular-level understanding of the
catalytic mechanisms that govern the function of heterogeneous
catalysts under reaction conditions. Such understanding is critical if
we wish to rationally design catalysts for specific applications in the
future. Reaction systems of interest in our group range from catalytic
hydrogenations relevant to fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals
production (e.g., enantioselective hydrogenation of a-ketoesters,
hydrogenation of aliphatic nitriles) to fuel production and
purification reactions (e.g., selective CO oxidation in the presence of
H2) required for implementation of
proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology. Catalysts under
investigation involve both polycrystalline transition metals and
oxide-supported mono and bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts. The latter
materials are prepared either through traditional catalyst synthesis
methods or more novel protocols that allow for control of size and
composition on the nanoscale. The Williams group is currently funded by
the National Science Foundation, the USC Nanocenter, and by industry
through the NSF I/UCRC for Fuel Cells.
Education
- Ph. D., Purdue University (1997)
- B. S., University of Delaware (1993)
Selected Publications
- "Surface
Raman Characterization of Cinchonidine-Modified Platinum in Ethanol:
Effects of Liquid-Phase Concentration and Co-Adsorbed Hydrogen," R.
J.
LeBlanc, W. Chu and C. T. Williams, J. Mol. Catal. A, 212,
277 (2004).
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"Vibrational
Band Assignments for the Chiral Modifier Cinchonidine:
Implications
for Surface Studies," W. Chu, R. J. LeBlanc, C. T. Williams, J.
Kubota,
and F. Zaera, J. Phys. Chem. B, 107, 14365 (2003).
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"Aliphatic Nitrile Adsorption on Al2O3
and ZrO2 as Studied by Total Internal Reflection
Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy," M. R. Strunk and C. T. Williams, Langmuir,
19, 9210 (2003).
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"In-Situ
Investigation of Solid-Liquid Catalytic Interfaces by Attenuated Total
Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy,". Ortiz-Hernandez and C. T.
Williams, Langmuir, 19, 2956 (2003).
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"Probing Buried Interfaces with Non-Linear
Optical Spectroscopy," C. T. Williams and D. A. Beattie, Surf.
Sci., 500, 545 (2002).
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