Reaction of SO2 with AuCeO2(111): importance of O vacancies in the activation of gold.
Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission was used to study the adsorption and chemistry of SO(2) on AuCeO(2)(111) and AuO(x)CeO(2) surfaces. The heat of adsorption of the molecule on Au nanoparticles supported on stoichiometric CeO(2)(111) was 4-7 kcalmol larger than on Au(111). However, there was negligible dissociation of SO(2) on the AuCeO(2)(111) surfaces. The full decomposition of SO(2) was observed only after introducing O vacancies in the ceria support. AuO(x)CeO(2) surfaces were found to be much less chemically active than AuCeO(2)(111) or AuCeO(2-x)(111) surfaces. The active sites in {Au + AuO(x)}ceria catalysts should involve pure gold nanoparticles in contact with O vacancies.
Rodriguez
J A
JA
Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA. rodrigez@bnl.gov
Pérez
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M
Evans
J
J
Liu
G
G
Hrbek
J
J