Evidence for an active oxygen species on Au/TiO 2(1 1 0) model catalysts during investigation with in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
[Display omitted] ► Au/TiO 2(1 1 0) planar model catalysts for CO oxidation. ► In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in O 2 and O 2/CO mixtures. ► Au 4f shifts smaller than 1 eV suggest transient molecular adsorption of O 2. ► X-ray induced formation of gold oxide evidenced by Au 4f shift larger...
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Published in | Catalysis today Vol. 181; no. 1; pp. 20 - 25 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Elsevier B.V
12.02.2012
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | [Display omitted]
► Au/TiO
2(1
1
0) planar model catalysts for CO oxidation. ►
In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in O
2 and O
2/CO mixtures. ► Au 4f shifts smaller than 1
eV suggest transient molecular adsorption of O
2. ► X-ray induced formation of gold oxide evidenced by Au 4f shift larger than 2
eV. ► Gold oxide reacts with CO.
The influence of oxygen (O
2) and carbon monoxide (CO) on Au nanoparticles supported on TiO
2(1
1
0) in the size range of 2–3
nm has been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and
in situ (high pressure) XPS at 300
K for O
2 and/or CO pressures of 0.1–1
mbar. These experiments were aimed at revisiting Au 4f core level shifts as reported in the literature and most importantly, to establish the dependence of the core-level shifts on the knowledge that there exists a maximum in reactivity for CO oxidation. Two samples were prepared with a coverage corresponding to that maximum (Au coverage 0.14–0.2 ML, particle size estimated to ∼2–2.5
nm) while a third sample was expected to be less reactive (Au coverage 0.4 ML, particle size estimated to ∼3.3
nm). At elevated O
2 pressures, a new Au 4f component at higher binding energy (2.4–2.6
eV relative to the Au(0) bulk signal) evolved at all particle sizes. Its appearance was attributed to a radiation-induced activation of oxygen and simultaneous oxidation of gold. The activation was much more efficient on the ∼2–2.5
nm particles. The relative intensity of the oxide component depended strongly on O
2 pressure and, thus, on the equilibrium coverage of O
2. While not present in 0.1
mbar O
2 regardless of exposure time and particle size, it dominated the Au 4f spectrum of particles ∼2–2.5
nm in size at 1
mbar oxygen pressure. This pressure-dependent formation reconciles previously conflicting XPS data. Finally, the activated oxygen species were very reactive toward CO as manifested by the rapid disappearance of the new Au 4f component in a 1:1 mixture of CO and O
2. The rates of evolution and consumption of this component were found to depend on gold coverage (and thus, particle size) and were highest for the smaller particles. |
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ISSN: | 0920-5861 1873-4308 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cattod.2011.09.035 |