András Sápi
Nanotechnology Surface Science Heterogeneous Catalysis Material Science Chemical Technology
ABOUT ME
I am an Assistant Professor at University of Szeged, Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry. My research are focused on heterogeneous catalysis and surface science based on size controlled nanoparticles and 3 D transient-metal supports as well as understanding the reactions under reaction conditions. Working together with students is a blessing. They are smart.
I have a beautiful wife, Agi and awesome triplets (Marci, Barni and Panni) . If I am not working i like to do sports (kettlebell, karate, squash), meditate, watch movies.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
EDUCATION
>50 Thesis, project and plan work supervision of Chemist BSc & MSc, Chemical Engineer MSc, Environmental Sciences BSc & MSc, Environmental Engineer BSc & MSc and Material Science BSc Students
Courses
Environmental Technology
Waste treatment
Selective waste collection laboratory
Nanotechnology and material science study laboratory
Chemical industrial procedures and machines seminary
Chemical technology laboratory
Environmental technology laboratory
Environmental technical procedures and machines seminary
Waste water treatment Tecgnologies
Nanotechnology Seminar and Laboratory
Basics of microscopy laboratory
Bulk and Surface Investigation Methods
Size controlled Nanoparticles & 3D mesoporous oxide supports in Surface Chemical Processes
Catalysis and other surface chemical processes in the 21st century targets 100% selectivity. Nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm posses much larger fractions of low coordination metal sites, which often dominate or even determine reactive chemistry.
3D mesoporous oxide supports with high surface area can tune catalytic performance via the ‘support effect’. This approach involves altering the choice of support (often a metal oxide) on which a metal catalyst is deposited in order to utilize a beneficial electronic or chemical interaction between catalyst and support. The interaction as well as the interface of the metal and support has been proven to have extremely favorable effects on catalytic performance.
CO2 activation and in-situ techniques
CO2 activation with H2 or CH4 are performed in flow reactors equppied with GC-FID-TCD-MS. Batch mode reactor is available for special reactions as well as 2D catalysts. Besides CO2 activation, ethanol decomposition, hydrosylilation etc. reactions are tested in both gas or liquid phase.
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In-situ techniques such as DRIFTS, NAP-XPS as well as synchroton-based techniques (EXAFS, GISAXS) are used for molecular level understanding of the reactions for improving catalytic activity and selectivity.
Battery researches
We are testing high energy Li-batteries (e.g. panasonic 18650). The heat and high C charge-discharge tolerance tests as well as the connection beetween physical degradation and battery aging is tested with in situ as well as post mortem tests.
Flue Gas Treatment
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70 million wood and cofired equipment generate heat in the EU, and most of these are inefficient and polluting. This sector is responsible for 50% of the life threatening air pollution (CO, NOx, SOx, VOC, X VOC, PM), which causes: 400,000 deaths/year due to particulate matter (PM) (Deutsche Umwelthilfe EV) and 14,000 deaths/year due to CO poisoning (National Vital Statistics System. 2015).
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The EU is aware of the problem, therefore from 2022 only efficient and eco friendly firing equipment can be used. Our preventive, cheap and easily insertable catalytic brick can decrease pollution drastically and improved efficiency (proved by accredited tests ), resulted in mitigation of the risks of respiratory diseases as well as burning fuel savings.
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Also, we have solutions based on the same noble-metal free techniques for exhaust system cleaning of road and non-road moving machines.
Other surface chemistry and material science
We are open to other surface chemical processes e.g. sensorics, electrochemistry, fotochemistry and have ongoing projects about them. Also, we are experts of CNT as well as titanate nanostructures. Huge amount of synthesis method and characterziation methods as well as GC park are available for material science.
Photocatalytic CO2 activation and Water treatment
Gas phase batcvh reactor is used for photocatalytic as well as thermo-photocatalytic CO2 activation and waste water treatment with the usage of ZnO-, TiO2- as well as semiconduction nanoparticles.