Research

Dr. Lyon's research involves:

1) Investigating the reaction products between metal atoms and small molecules.

    Small molecules (freons, hydrocarbons, fuel alcohols, etc.) are reacted with metal atoms and frozen into an inert matrix (typically argon or neon). The resulting reaction products are identified through matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and density function theory calculations. These experiments give potential insights into the remediation of toxic chemicals and the production of fuels.

For more information see, for example:

    Cho, H. G.; Lyon, J. T.; Andrews, L. J. Phys. Chem. A 2012, 116, 11880.    

    Lyon, J. T.; Andrews, L.; Hu, H.-S. Li, J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2007, 104, 18919.

2) Understanding the structural and chemical properties of clusters of metal and semiconductor atoms.

    Metals tend to have special properties which enable them to act as catalysts in chemical reactions.  However, this process is not always trivial.  Small metal clusters are studied as model systems of the active sites in heterogeneous catalysis.  By understanding small metal clusters, and the chemistry that occurs on them, we aim to improve current catalytic processes.  The structures of small metal clusters and their complexes are investigated by infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.

For more information see, for example:

   Kerpal, C.; Harding, D. J.; Lyon, J. T.; Meijer, G.; Fielicke, A. J. Phys. Chem. C 2013, 117, 12153.

   Ngan, V. T.; Janssens, E.; Claes, P.; Lyon, J. T.; Fielicke, A.; Nguyen, M. T.; Lievens, P. Chem. Eur. J. 2012, 18, 15788.

   Haertelt, M.; Lyon, J. T.; Claes, P.; de Haeck, J.; Lievens, P.; Fielicke, A. J. Chem. Phys. 2012, 136, 064301.