B.S.in Chemical Engineering, Notre Dame, 2005

Contact Information

car205 [at] lehigh.edu

Research Interests

Characterization of catalysts by optical spectroscopy under the real, or so-called operando reaction conditions. Specifically, I am interested in applying these techniques to photosensitive catalysts for photocatalytic splitting of water to H₂ and O₂.  My research focuses on understanding the fundamental phenomena involved in the reaction rather than simply using a high throughput approach for discovering the best possible catalyst.  Utilizing well-defined model catalysts and examining properties that deal with electron excitation, surface active sites and their structure, adsorption/desorption, reaction kinetics, and activity, I hope to gain insight which will lead to structure-photoactivity realtionships that can be applied to future rational design of novel photocatalytic materials.

Publications

Characterization of Hydrothermally Prepared Titanate Nanotube Powders by Ambient and In Situ Raman Spectroscopy, Kim, Sun-Jae; Yun, Yeong-Ung; Oh, Hyo-Jin; Hong, Sung Ho; Roberts, Charles A.; Routray, Kamalakanta; Wachs, Israel E., J. Phys. Chem. Letters 2010, 1, 130-135

 

Oral Presentations

"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, April 2009 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia April Meeting - Invited Speaker

"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, November 2008- AIChE Annual Meeting (Philadelphia, PA)

Poster Presentations

"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, March 2009 - Catalysis Society of Metroplitan New York Spring Symposium

"Structure-Photocatalytic Relationships of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, A. Puretzky, S. Phivilay, & I. Wachs, March 2009 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Annual Poster Contest

"Photocatalytic Structure-Activity Relationship of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, E. Berrier, H. Vezin, E. Payen, & I. Wachs, June 2008 - Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis

"Photocatalytic Structure-Activity Relationship of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, E. Berrier, H. Vezin, E. Payen, & I. Wachs, March 2008 - Catalysis Society of Metroplitan New York Spring Symposium

"Photocatalytic Structure-Activity Relationship of Well-Defined TiO2 Nanodomains," C. Roberts, E. Berrier, H. Vezin, E. Payen, & I. Wachs, March 2008 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Annual Poster Contest

"Investigating the Volcano Curve Correlation for Formic Acid Decomposition on Bulk Metal Catalysts," C. Roberts & I. Wachs, June 2007 - 20th North American Catalysis Society

"Investigating the Volcano Curve Correlation for Formic Acid Decomposition on Bulk Metal Catalysts," C. Roberts & I. Wachs, March 2007 - Catalysis Society of Metroplitan New York Spring Symposium

"Investigating the Volcano Curve Correlation for Formic Acid Decomposition on Bulk Metal Catalysts," C. Roberts & I. Wachs, March 2007 - Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Annual Poster Contest

Awards

Gotshall Fellowship - Lehigh University

Kokes Award - 20th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Houston