title: Combined TPRx, in situ GISAXS and GIXAS studies of model semiconductor-supported platinum catalysts in the hydrogenation of ethene.
abstract: The preparation, characterization and catalytic reactivity of a GaN supported Pt catalyst in the hydrogenation of ethene are presented in this feature article, highlighting the use of in situ characterization of the material properties during sample handling and catalysis by combining temperature programmed reaction with in situ grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The catalysts are found to be sintering resistant at elevated temperatures as well as during reduction and hydrogenation reactions. In contrast to Pt particles of approximately 7 nm diameter, smaller particles of 1.8 nm in size are found to dynamically adapt their shape and oxidation state to the changes in the reaction environment. These smaller Pt particles also showed an initial deactivation in ethene hydrogenation, which is paralleled by the change in the particle shape. The subtle temperature-dependent X-ray absorbance of the 1.8 nm sized Pt particles indicates that subtle variations in the electronic structure induced by the state of reduction by electron tunnelling over the Schottky barrier between the Pt particles and the GaN support can be monitored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, D-85747 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wyrzgol
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Sungsik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byeongdu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Vece
authors.forename: Xuebing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sönke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Randall E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Winans
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stutzmann
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lercher
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vajda