Steps and catalytic reactions: CO oxidation with preadsorbed O on Rh(553)
Journal article, 2022
Industrial catalysts are often comprised of nanoparticles supported on high-surface-area oxides, in order to maximise the catalytically active surface area and thereby utilise the active material better. These nanoparticles expose steps and corners that, due to low coordination to neighboring atoms, are more reactive and, as a consequence, are often assumed to have higher catalytic activity. We have investigated the reaction between CO and preadsorbed O on a stepped Rh(553) surface, and show that CO oxidation indeed occurs faster than on the flat Rh(111) surface at the same temperature. However, we do find that this is not a result of reactions at the step sites but rather at the terrace sites close to the steps, due to in-plane relaxation enabled by the step. This insight can provide ways to optimize the shape of the nanoparticles to further improve the activity of certain reactions.
X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Rhodium
Steps
CO Oxidation
Catalysis
Density functional theory
Author
Chu Zhang
Lund University
Baochang Wang
Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)
Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics
Anders Hellman
Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics
Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)
M. Shipilin
AlbaNova University Center
Andreas Schaefer
Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
L. R. Merte
Malmö university
Sara Blomberg
Lund University
Xueting Wang
Polymer Technology
Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)
Per-Anders Carlsson
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)
Edvin Lundgren
Lund University
Jonas Weissenrieder
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Andrea Resta
SOLEIL Synchrotron
Anders Mikkelsen
Lund University
Jesper N. Andersen
Lund University
Johan Gustafsson
Lund University
Surface Science
0039-6028 (ISSN)
Vol. 715 121928Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Inorganic Chemistry
Materials Chemistry
Biocatalysis and Enzyme Technology
Areas of Advance
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Energy
Materials Science
DOI
10.1016/j.susc.2021.121928