Peter C. Stair

Professor Peter C. Stair is an internationally well recognized scientist in catalysis and surface science. He is currently the director of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science and of the Institute for Catalysis in Energy Processes in Northwestern University, and Senior Scientist in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory and Deputy Director of the Institute for Atom-efficient Chemical Transformations. He has received the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award and the 2010 ACS George Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry.

Professor Stair has worked in surface science and in-situ Raman spectroscopy. Recently, his research focuses on the development and use of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) for the synthesis of stable and selective catalysts. He uses ALD reactors to develop new growth methods and synthesize catalysts and uses UV Raman spectroscopy to do in-situ characterization of hydrocarbon formation on catalyst surfaces, to better target and prevent coke formation. In conjunction with low-pressure ALD reactors, he is also studying ALD growth processes in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions. Testing of catalysts synthesized by ALD is done in the Northwestern Clean Catalysis Facility, using a multiline Altamira system. His research results have been published in many high profile journals, including Science, Nat. Chem., Angew. Chem., J. catalysis and etc.