Chuck Peden
Interim Director
Institute for Interfacial Catalysis
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Send Email
P.O. Box 999 / K8-80
Richland, WA 99352
Current Activities and Projects
Dr. Charles H. F. (Chuck) Peden is currently developing research programs addressing numerous aspects of the physical and chemical properties of oxide surfaces. These include fundamental experimental studies of the geometric and electronic structure of oxide surfaces, as well as more applied studies that are developing oxides as catalytic materials. Recent specific research programs have included studies of the geometric structure of zinc oxide (ZnO) surfaces, including the polar (0001) and (000-1) and non-polar (10-10) surfaces, utilizing low-energy alkali ion scattering, x- ray standing waves, and photoelectron diffraction. He has been also been studying the growth and structure of thin TiOx films as models of titania (TiO2) surfaces. Very recently, Chuck has adapted a high pressure catalytic reactor/ultra-high vacuum surface analytical apparatus for the study of oxide catalyzed reactions over model, single crystal materials. Recent applied catalyst development studies have included proof of principle experiments demonstrating the ability of high energy ionizing radiation to initiate known photocatalytic redox reactions on semiconducting titanium dioxide materials. In addition, Chuck is performing experimental studies aimed at demonstrating the suitability of more traditional ultra-violet photocatalysis on titanium dioxide for the problem of cold-start hydrocarbon emissions in automobile exhausts.
Research Interests
- Kinetics and mechanisms of surface chemical reactions important in heterogeneous catalysis
- Materials synthesis, separations, and adhesion
Many of his studies involve the use of a coupled high-pressure microcatalytic reactor/UHV surface analysis apparatus to measure reaction rates on well-characterized, single crystal model catalysts.
He uses both in- and ex-situ (UHV) spectroscopies in conjunction with the kinetic measurements to develop mechanistic models.
Past Experience
After graduating with distinction from California State University, Chico with a B.A. in chemistry, Chuck Peden completed his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara under the direction of Ralph G. Pearson. He then spent two years as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico before joining the scientific staff. He spent the next seven years at Sandia as a Senior Member of the Technical Staff in the Inorganic Materials Chemistry Department. While at Sandia, some representative technical assignments included: kinetics and mechanisms of automobile exhaust catalysis; development of novel hydrous titania catalyst support materials; growth and surface chemistry of Si3N4 thin films; model studies of adhesion at metal/metal-oxide interfaces; and metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) chemistry of aluminum and copper (mechanisms of growth and selectivity).
Education
- B.A., Chemistry, 1978, California State University, Chico, graduated with distinction
- M.A., Physical Chemistry, 1981, University of California, Santa Barbara
- Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, 1983 (Thesis Advisor: Prof. R. G. Pearson) University of California, Santa Barbara
Awards, Honors & Appointments
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
- Life Member, California Scholastic Federation
- Graduated with Distinction, CSU, Chico, 1978
- Elected to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1978
- University of California Regents Predoctoral Fellow, 1978-1979
- Affiliate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington
- Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of New Mexico
- Chair, American Vacuum Society Short Course Executive Committee
- Member, American Chemical Society
- Member, American Vacuum Society
- Member, North American Catalysis Society
Other
Dr. Peden has written or contributed to more than 90 publications on topics such as oxide surface structure and chemistry, automobile exhaust catalysis, hydrocarbon reforming on bimetallic catalysts, the structure of hydroprocessing catalysts, the kinetics of silicon nitride thin-film growth, and the fundamental adhesion properties of metal/oxide interfaces.
