NANO2

Oxidation of Nanomaterials (NanO2)

Ambient pressure oxidation determines the stability, functionality and long term performance of nanomaterials in their working environment. The NanO2 consortium will clarify, how nanomaterials behave and function under environmental oxygen conditions. The influence of the size and shape of nanoparticles on ambient pressure oxidation will systematically investigated in a revolutionary approach: Surface sensitive in-situ techniques for ambient oxygen pressures and high temperatures will be combined with ab-initio thermodynamic calculations. NanO2 brings together the specialists in Europe with unique expertise in oxidation processes as well as novel experimental and theoretical techniques. NanO2 aims to grow nano-sized Pd, Rh, Ru, and Cu particles with defined size and shape on selected oxide substrates, such as AI2O3, MgO, TiO2 and ZnO. Within four workpackages the key barriers to control ambient pressure oxidation of nanomaterials will be attacked: the influence of nano-size and -shape, the formation of sub-surface oxygen, the ab-initio modelling of the oxidation of nanosized materials at high oxygen pressures and high temperatures and nanomaterials-substrate interaction including oxygen spillover effects. The control of oxidation under operational conditions is of utmost importance for the enhanced performance of catalysts involved in applications ranging from fuel cells and chemical production to electronic sensors for automotive and environmental monitoring applications. On a more general scheme, the atomistic knowledge, prediction and control, how nanomaterials behave and eventually deterioriate under environmental conditions, will bring increased security to a European society becoming increasingly more dependent on nanotechnological systems and structures. The acquired knowledge from this European project may lay the basis for further studies expanded to a whole range of nanomaterials and corrosive environments.

1 January 2004

31 March 2007

FP6

Integrating and strenghtening the ERA

STREP

3. Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices