Thomas Eldridge Email & Phone Number

Karlsruhe, Bw, De

Karlsruhe, Bw, De

Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Studying emission control under the IKFT department at KIT.

Delft Area, Netherlands

In collaboration with Toyoto Motor Europe, studied the catalytic conversion of auto emissions via space and time resolved operando DRIFTS and MS gas sampling. Measured the spatial gradients of temperature, gases, and surface species across a catalyst bed.

Alkane Activation on Pt(111): Thermal Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and the Role of Van der Waals InteractionsDissertation ResearchFaculty Advisor: Ian Harrison (Harrison@virginia.edu)• Studied the thermal kinetics of molecular desorption and dissociative chemisorption of C1 to C9 alkanes on a Pt(111) single crystal in ultra-high vacuum (UHV).• Achieved thermal equilibrium conditions for dissociative chemisorption experiments by using a heated effusive molecular beam doser and setting the molecular beam temperature equal to the surface temperature • Demonstrated that the efficacy of gas-surface energy exchange scales with alkane size using non-equilibrium experiments, such that n-pentane and larger alkanes thermalize to the surface temperature• A strong linear correlation was found between van der Waals interactions and the decrease in activation energy for dissociative chemisorption with an increase in alkane size• Established that thermal equilibrium pre-exponential factors for molecular desorption and dissociative chemisorption were approximately equal, supporting an early and loose transition state for activated dissociative chemisorption• Related thermal kinetic data to single crystal calorimetry experiments and provided thermodynamic benchmarks for Pt(111)-alkyl surface bond enthalpies and dissociative chemisorption heats of reaction• Discovered a high temperature onset of C-C bond dissociative chemisorption for 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane on Pt(111)• Demonstrated the limitations in the use of large alkanes for chemical vapor deposition (CVD)

Development of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy ElectrochemistryIndependent StudyFaculty Advisor: Leanna Giancarlo (lgiancar@umw.edu)• Explored techniques for imaging redox states of molecules using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)• Successfully imaged graphitic C(0001) with the ability to resolve individual molecules using insolated tips

Analysis of Antioxidants in TeaIndependent StudyFaculty Advisor: Raymond Scott (rscott@umw.edu)• Measured the redox states of antioxidants in tea on a glassy-carbon electrode surface using cyclic voltammetry• Identified the efficiency in the dissolution of antioxidants from tea leaves via different brewing methods

Roanoke, Virginia Area

Thomas was a Vector Marketing sales representative for Cutco cutlery during the summer of 2011.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemistry

Thomas was a graduate student in the Harrison research group. His research focused on studying the kinetics of alkane dissociative.

Bachelor’S Degree, Chemistry

Activities and Societies: Aikido ClubThomas graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in ACS Certified Chemistry from the University of Mary.

Japanese Language And Literature

Activities and Societies: APU Judo ClubThomas was enrolled in an 8 week intensive Japanese language studies course at Ritsumeikan Asia.