My research involves with synthesis and characterization of structural well-defined catalysts as well as their catalytic properties. The catalysts are zeolite supported rhodium complexes. Zeolites are chosen because zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates that have nanoporous structure with high densities of unique surface sites. The structures of the catalysts will be determined spectroscopically in reactive atmospheres and during catalysis, primarily by EXAFS and IR spectroscopies, and they will be characterized by density functional theory. Calorimeters may be used to measure the energetics of reactions between zeolite and rhodium complexes which can reveal the strengh of the possible formation of metal oxygen bonds. The condition of the stability for this chemical bond can also be determined.