title: Detecting and utilizing minority phases in heterogeneous catalysis.
abstract: Highly active phases in carbon monoxide oxidation are known, however they are transient in nature. Here, we determined for the first time the structure of such a highly active phase on platinum nanoparticles in an actual reactor. Unlike generally assumed, the surface of this phase is virtually free of adsorbates and co-exists with carbon-monoxide covered and surface oxidized platinum. Understanding the relation between gas composition and catalyst structure at all times and locations within a reactor enabled the rational design of a reactor concept, which maximizes the amount of the highly active phase and minimizes the amount of platinum needed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hartfelder
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jagdeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institut, 5236 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institut, 5236 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nachtegaal
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institut, 5236 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grolimund
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.|Paul Scherrer Institut, 5236 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jeroen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Bokhoven