title: Synthesis and stabilization of subnanometric gold oxide nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their catalytic activity.
abstract: Small gold nanoclusters in a very narrow size distribution (1.1 ± 0.5 nm) have been stabilized onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Theoretical studies supported by XPS and (16)O(2)/(18)O(2) isotopic exchange experiments have shown that, on small gold nanoparticles (0.9-1.5 nm), dissociation of molecular O(2) and formation of a surface oxide-like layer is energetically favorable and occurs at room temperature, while O(2) recombination and desorption involves a larger activation barrier. CO titration experiments and theoretical studies demonstrate that the reactivity of the oxidized particles toward CO does not only depend on particle size but also on oxygen coverage. The oxidation-reduction process described is reversible, and the oxidized nanoparticles are active in the epoxidation of styrene with air.
authors.affiliation: Grup de Nanomaterials Aplicats, Centre de Recerca en Nanoenginyeria (CRNE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, c/Pascual i Vila 17, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boronat
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cabrero-Antonino
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Concepción
authors.forename: Avelino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corma
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Correa-Duarte
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mendoza