Gar Hoflund
Professor of Physics

Department of Physics
University of Florida

VOICE: (352) 392-9104

EMAIL: hoflund@che.ufl.edu

HOMEPAGE: http://www.che.ufl.edu/faculty/Hoflund/

Research Interests

Our research involves the development and advancement of ultrahigh vacuum surface characterization techniques. These techniques provide us with the power to examine the composition, chemical states of the species present and electronic structure of the near-surface region of a solid. They also allow us to examine the detailed chemistry which occurs at these surfaces.

We utilize these characterization methods in many different application areas including studies in heterogeneous catalysis, Si and III-V semiconductor studies, tribological studies, electrochemical studies, alloy studies, environmental studies, etc. With regard to heterogeneous catalysis, we are studying alumina-supported bimetallic catalysts used for hydrocarbon reforming. Our studies of Pt/Sn/Al2/O3 systems have shown that Pt/Sn alloy formation is responsible for the improvement in catalytic properties compared to Pt/Al2O3 catalysts. We have also prepared and studied numerous noble metal/reducible oxide catalysts in an effort to produce low temperature CO oxidation catalysts for use in space-borne CO2 lasers used for weather monitoring and remote sensing.

Recent Publications

1. Ghaleb N. Salaita and Gar B. Hoflund, "Dynamic SIMS Study of Cr3C2, Cr7C3 and Cr23C6," submitted to Applied Surface Science.

2. Gar B. Hoflund, William S. Epling and David M. Minahan, "Surface Characterization Study of a 1 wt.% K-Promoted ZnO, Higher Alcohol Synthesis Catalyst IV," submitted to Journal of Molecular Catalysis.

3. Gar B. Hoflund, Charles K. Mount, Rene I. Gonzalez, Hermann Ferber, Ghaleb N. Salaita and Shigeo Hoshino, "Characterization Study of Nitrogen-Ion Implanted, Amorphous Bright Chromium Deposited (ABCD) Films, Part 7," submitted to Thin Solid Films.

4. William S. Epling, Gar B. Hoflund and David M. Minahan, "Reaction and Surface Characterization Study of Higher Alcohol Synthesis Catalysts IX: Pd- and Alkali-Promoted Zn/Cr (Excess ZnO) Spinels," submitted to Journal of Catalysis.

5. Maxwell R. Lee, Eric R. Allen, Joseph D. Wander, John T. Wolan and Gar B. Hoflund, "NO2 and NO Adsorption Properties of KOH-Treated g-Alumina," submitted to Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research.

6. Elmar Wistozki, Adam G. Balogh, Horst Hahn, John T. Wolan and Gar B. Hoflund, "Room-Temperature Growth of ZrO2 Thin Films Using a Novel Hyperthermal Oxygen-Atom Source," submitted to Thin Solid Films.

7. William S. Epling, Simone Hirth and Gar B. Hoflund, "Influence of Support Material on the Reaction Behavior of Pd-Based Catalysts Toward Methane Oxidation," submitted to Catalysis Letters.

8. William S. Epling and Gar B. Hoflund, "Catalytic Oxidation of Methane over Zirconia-Supported Pd Catalysts," submitted to Journal of Catalysis.