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Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

Faculty and Staff

Christopher Williams

Title: Professor and Chair
Department: Chemical Engineering
Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
Email: willia84@cec.sc.edu
Phone: 803-777-0143
Fax: 803-777-8265
Office:

Swearingen Engineering Center
Room 2C15
301 Main Street
Columbia, SC  29208
Resources: My CV
Headshot of Professor Christopher Williams

Education

  • Ph.D., Purdue University, 1997
  • B.S., University of Delaware, 1993

Research Overview

The Williams group research interests focus on the area of heterogeneous catalysis and surface science. One of our primary research interests involves the development and application of in-situ or operando surface vibrational spectroscopic methods to study adsorption and catalysis at solid catalyst surfaces under industrially relevant reaction conditions (i.e., in the liquid phase and/or at high gas pressures and temperatures). The information obtained with these approaches allows us to develop a molecular-level understanding of the catalytic mechanisms that govern the function of heterogeneous catalysts under reaction conditions. Such understanding is critical if we wish to rationally design catalysts for specific applications in the future. Another major focus is the exploration of rational (and scalable) synthetic methods to prepare supported metal catalysts while controlling dispersion and composition from the atomic to nanoscale. Recent studies have focused on the influence of drying on the precursor to active metal conversion, as well as controlling the surface tension of the support-impregnating liquid interface.

Selected Publications

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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