Technical University of Munich

Introduction

The PIs focus on fundamental and applied research with respect to synthesis, characterization, and utilization of macro-, meso-, and microscopically well-defined materials as catalysts and sorbents. Full integration with reactor technology within the group allows transferring fundamental results into scalable reaction routes for petroleum and petrochemical reactions. Advanced synthesis of metal organic complexes and well-structured micro and mesoporous oxides containing metallic and oxidic nano-clusters allow the targeted synthesis of complex catalysts. The group pioneered the use of in situ (operando) molecular spectroscopy for characterizing surface reactions. Successful examples for these activities include alkane activation, xylene isomerization, methylamine synthesis and hydroformulation.

The role in NEXT-GTL

TUM will participate primarily in WP2 with two strongly collaborating groups (profs. J.A. Lercher and W. A. Herrmann). Prof. W. A. Herrmann’s group will address the synthesis of noble-metal based organometallic and organic complexes for methane activation. Prof. Lercher’s group will prepare immobilized catalysts from these complexes and prepare complex oxide catalysts in three dimensionally nano structured oxide environments. The latter group will also test the catalysts and explore mechanistic details necessary to develop stable catalysts for direct methane conversion to methanol and DME.

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