The role of surface stress in reconstruction, epitaxial growth and stabilization of mesoscopic structures

The electronic properties of Pt nanoparticles deposited on CeO(2)(111) and CeO(x)/TiO(2)(110) model catalysts have been examined using valence photoemission experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The valence photoemission and DFT results point to a new type of "strong metal-support interaction" that produces large electronic perturbations for small Pt particles in contact with ceria and significantly enhances the ability of the admetal to dissociate the O-H bonds in water. When going from Pt(111) to Pt(8)/CeO(2)(111), the dissociation of water becomes a very exothermic process. The ceria-supported Pt(8) appears as a fluxional system that can change geometry and charge distribution to accommodate adsorbates better. In comparison with other water-gas shift (WGS) catalysts [Cu(111), Pt(111), Cu/CeO(2)(111), and Au/CeO(2)(111)], the Pt/CeO(2)(111) surface has the unique property that the admetal is able to dissociate water in an efficient way. Furthermore, for the codeposition of Pt and CeO(x) nanoparticles on TiO(2)(110), we have found a transfer of O from the ceria to Pt that opens new paths for the WGS process and makes the mixed-metal oxide an extremely active catalyst for the production of hydrogen.

A new type of strong metal-support interaction and the production of H2 through the transformation of water on Pt/CeO2(111) and Pt/CeO(x)/TiO2(110) catalysts.

Publisher Summary Catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over catalysts from the platinum group metals has been investigated. Apart from its enormous practical importance, this reaction is considered to proceed through a relatively simple mechanism because only diatomic molecules are involved and product formation occurs presumably only over a very few steps. This chapter discusses the adsorptive properties of the reactants, their mutual interaction, and the mechanism and kinetics of product formation as well as the investigations with well defined single-crystal surfaces. The activity of a catalyst for a particular reaction is strongly dependent on the surface structure. Directive investigation of the influence of the surface structure on the catalytic activity was performed by using a platinum single crystal whose surface was curved in such a way that not only the plane but also vicinals with varying step density of two different crystallographic directions were present.

G. Brodén

Papers

Coadsorption of potassium and oxygen on Fe(110)

Structure sensitivity of NO adsorption on a smooth and stepped Pt(100) surface

Chemisorption of CO on the unreconstructed Pt(100) surface

The adsorption of potassium on Pt(111) and its effect on oxygen adsorption

Adsorption of oxygen on potassium-covered Pt(111) and Fe(110)