Mahapatra Research Group Loyola University Chicago
Welcome to our site! We are situated on the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University Chicago within the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Our research group is dedicated to the synthesis and characterization of model catalytic surfaces, employing cutting-edge techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy and advanced spectroscopic methods.
Research Focus
Our research interests are centered around heterogeneous catalysis and chemical reactions on well-defined surfaces of metals, oxides, and interfaces. We have two primary research areas:
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Renewable and Sustainable Fuels Development: Our first research focus addresses the pressing challenge of developing renewable and sustainable fuels. We explore the fabrication of novel surfaces to facilitate the production of energy-rich materials by understanding the fundamental reaction mechanisms involved in transforming abundant chemical feedstocks into value-added materials. Specifically, our project aims to design innovative catalyst surfaces for converting carbon one (C1) molecules, with a particular emphasis on CO2 and CH4, into clean fuels such as methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether. Presently, our investigations delve into the role of promoters, particularly organic modifiers, at the metal/graphite interfaces in catalytic processes of this nature.
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Design and Deployment of 2D Chiral Surfaces: The second research area involves the design and deployment of 2D chiral surfaces that can be precisely tuned to perform key chemical reactions with high enantiospecificity. Within this scope, we will explore both the design intricacies and enantioselectivity of oxide surfaces modified by chiral molecules.This research provides fundamental insights into various industrial processes, including chiral pharmaceuticals and bioactive chemicals.
Our research group is committed to advancing the fundamental understanding of surface-catalyzed processes with atomic-scale precision.We employ ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy and complementary surface science spectroscopy to investigate the structure, electronic properties, and chemical characteristics of catalytic surfaces. These experimental studies are complemented by theoretical density functional theory calculations.