Introduction to LMCat project

Mehdi Saedi ¹, Irene Groot ² 

1,2, Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands     

Contacts: 1  a.saedi@lic.leidenuniv.nl  -  2  i.m.n.groot@lic.leidenuniv.nl

Abstract

Two-dimensional materials (2DMs), e.g. graphene, hold great promise for future applications in many technological areas. The current state-of-the-art synthesis method of these materials involves the dissociative adsorption of gas-phase precursors on a solid catalyst. Using liquid metal catalysts (LMCats) instead of solid ones bears the prospect of a continuous production of 2DMs with higher quality and production speed. The aims of this multinational collaborative project are to develop instrumentation capable of studying the ongoing chemical reactions on a LMCat, in situ investigations on its catalytic activity, and unraveling the growth mechanisms of 2DMs on surfaces of LMCats. This presentation is to introduce the LMCat project and outline its general scope. This includes:

• How the LMCat project was conceived and a short history of the topic,  
• General aims of the LMCat project and challenges,
• Introduction of consortium collaborators and their corresponding work packages,  
• The current statues of the project and main achievements so far,   
• Future directions of the project till 2020 and beyond.