Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 81: Catalysis and surface reactions II
O 81.2: Talk
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 10:45–11:00, TRE/MATH
Acetylene Cyclotrimerization to Aromatic Products on Coinage Metal Surfaces — Nipun T. S. K. Dewage1, •Dennis Meier1, Santu Biswas2, Matthew M. Montemore2, and E. Charles H. Sykes1 — 1Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA. — 2Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA.
Benzene and toluene are indispensable chemical feedstocks used in products ranging from pharmaceuticals to building materials. They are primarily produced through petroleum cracking and reforming, which require high energy input, severe operating conditions, and lack 100% selectivity. As the chemical industry transitions from oil to shale gas as its primary hydrocarbon feedstock, interest is growing in alternative routes to synthesize aromatics. One promising approach is the cyclotrimerization of acetylene, which uniquely yields benzene with 100% selectivity on Ag(111) in ultra-high vacuum. However, this reaction requires more than a monolayer of acetylene to initiate benzene formation, necessitating high pressures that may limit industrial viability. In this work, we investigate strategies to enhance the activity of this reaction on coinage metal surfaces.
Keywords: Catalysis; Scanning Tunneling Microscope; Ultra-high vacuum