Identifying an O2 Supply Pathway in CO Oxidation on Au/TiO2(110): A Density Functional Theory Study on the Intrinsic Role of Water

Fabrication and growth mechanism of three-dimensional spherical TiO(2) architectures consisting of TiO(2) nanorods with {110} exposed facets

In this paper, we report on the fabrication of a novel rutile TiO(2) architecture consisting of nanorods with {110} exposed facets through a simple hydrothermal method without using any templates. An outside-in ripening mechanism is proposed to account for the formation of the TiO(2) architectures.The formation of the TiO(2) architectures can be attributed to the Ostwald step rule and highly acidic medium. Significantly, the current method is suitable for high-yield (>98%) production of the TiO(2) architectures with nearly 100% morphological yield. This research provides a facile route to fabricate rutile TiO(2) with three-dimensional microstructures based on nano units. It is easy to realize their industrial-scale synthesis and application because of the simple synthesis method, low cost, and high yield.

Role of hydroxyl groups in the NH(x) (x = 1-3) adsorption on the TiO2 anatase (101) surface determined by a first-principles study

A spin-polarized density functional theory calculation was carried out to study the adsorption of NH(x) species (x = 1-3) on a TiO2 anatase (101) surface with and without hydroxyl groups by using first-principles calculations. It was found that the present hydroxyl group has the effect of significantly enhancing the adsorption of monodentate adsorbates H2N-Ti(a) compared to that on a bare surface. The nature of the interaction between the adsorbate (NH(x)) and the hydroxylated or bare surface was analyzed by the Mulliken charge and density of states (DOS) calculations. This facilitation of NH2 is caused by the donation of coadsorbed H filling the nonbonding orbital of NH2, resulting in an electron gain in NH2 from the bonding. In addition, the upper valence band, which originally consisted of the mixing of O 2p and Ti 3d orbitals, has been broadened by the two adjacent H 1s and NH2 sigma(y)(b) orbitals joined to the bottom of the original TiO2 valence band. The results are important to understand the OH effect in heterogeneous catalysis.

An efficient photocatalyst structure: TiO(2)(B) nanofibers with a shell of anatase nanocrystals

A new efficient photocatalyst structure, a shell of anatase nanocrystals on the fibril core of a single TiO(2)(B) crystal, was obtained via two consecutive partial phase transition processes. In the first stage of the process, titanate nanofibers reacted with dilute acid solution under moderate hydrothermal conditions, yielding the anatase nanocrystals on the fiber. In the subsequent heating process, the fibril core of titanate was converted into a TiO(2)(B) single crystal while the anatase crystals in the shell remained unchanged. The anatase nanocrystals do not attach to the TiO(2)(B) core randomly but coherently with a close crystallographic registry to the core to form a stable phase interface. For instance, (001) planes in anatase and (100) planes of TiO(2)(B) join together to form a stable interface. Such a unique structure has several features that enhance the photocatalytic activity of these fibers. First, the differences in the band edges of the two phases promote migration of the photogenerated holes from anatase shell to the TiO(2)(B) core. Second, the well-matched phase interfaces allow photogenerated electrons and holes to readily migrate across the interfaces because the holes migrate much faster than excited electrons, more holes than electrons migrate to TiO(2)(B) and this reduces the recombination of the photogenerated charges in anatase shell. Third, the surface of the anatase shell has both a strong ability to regenerate surface hydroxyl groups and adsorb O(2), the oxidant of the reaction, to yield reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH(.)) through reaction between photogenerated holes and surface hydroxyl groups. The adsorbed O(2) molecules can capture the excited electrons on the surface, forming reactive O(2)(-) species. The more reactive species generated on the external surface, the higher the photocatalytic activity will be, and generation of the reactive species also contributes to reducing recombination of the photogenerated charges. Indeed, the mixed-phase nanofibers exhibited superior photocatalytic activity for degradation of sulforhodamine B under UV light to the nanofibers of either pure phase alone or mechanical mixtures of the pure phase nanofibers with a similar phase composition. Finally, the nanofibril morphology has an additional advantage that they can be separated readily after reaction for reuse by sedimentation. This is very important because the high cost for separating the catalyst nanocrystals has seriously impeded the applications of TiO(2) photocatalysts on an industrial scale.

Icosahedral crown gold nanocluster au(43)cu(12) with high catalytic activity

Structural and catalytic properties of the gold alloy nanocluster Au(43)Cu(12) are investigated using a density-functional method. In contrast to the pure Au(55) nanocluster, which exhibits a low-symmetry C(1) structure, the 55-atom "crown gold" nanocluster exhibits a multishell structure, denoted by Au@Cu(12)@Au(42), with the highest icosahedral group-symmetry. In addition, density functional calculations suggest that this geometric magic-number nanocluster possesses comparable catalytic capability as a small-sized Au(10) cluster for the CO oxidation, due in part to their low-coordinated Au atoms on vertexes. The gold alloy nanocluster also shows higher selectivity for styrene oxidation than the bare Au(111) surface.

Density functional theory for transition metals and transition metal chemistry

We introduce density functional theory and review recent progress in its application to transition metal chemistry. Topics covered include local, meta, hybrid, hybrid meta, and range-separated functionals, band theory, software, validation tests, and applications to spin states, magnetic exchange coupling, spectra, structure, reactivity, and catalysis, including molecules, clusters, nanoparticles, surfaces, and solids.

Observation of all the intermediate steps of a chemical reaction on an oxide surface by scanning tunneling microscopy

By means of high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we have revealed unprecedented details about the intermediate steps for a surface-catalyzed reaction. Specifically, we studied the oxidation of H adatoms by O(2) molecules on the rutile TiO(2)(110) surface. O(2) adsorbs and successively reacts with the H adatoms, resulting in the formation of water species. Using time-lapsed STM imaging, we have unraveled the individual reaction intermediates of HO(2), H(2)O(2), and H(3)O(2) stoichiometry and the final reaction product-pairs of water molecules, [H(2)O](2). Because of their different appearance and mobility, these four species are discernible in the time-lapsed STM images. The interpretation of the STM results is corroborated by density functional theory calculations. The presented experimental and theoretical results are discussed with respect to previous reports where other reaction mechanisms have been put forward.

Insights into the oxidation and decomposition of CO on Au/alpha-Fe2O3 and on alpha-Fe2O3 by coupled TG-FTIR

CO oxidation and decomposition behaviors over nanosized 3% Au/alpha-Fe2O3 catalyst and over the alpha-Fe2O3 support were studied in situ via thermogravimetry coupled to on-line FTIR spectroscopy (TG-FTIR), which was used to obtain temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) curves and evolved gas analysis. The catalyst was prepared by a sonication-assisted Au colloid based method and had a Au particle size in the range of 2-5 nm. Carburization studies of H 2-prereduced samples were also made in CO gas. According to gravimetry, for the 3% Au/alpha-Fe2O3 catalyst, there were three distinct stages of CO interaction with the Au catalyst but only two stages for the catalyst support. At low temperatures (<or=100 degrees C), only the Au catalyst had a rapid weight loss, which confirmed that CO reacted with highly active absorbed oxygen species and/or OH species which were associated with and promoted by the Au nanoparticles. Around 300 degrees C, both the catalyst and support samples experienced the reduction of Fe2O3 to Fe3O4, while above 400 degrees C further reduction to FeO and Fe metal took place. Au played no part in the kinetics of Fe3O4 formation because lattice O mobility was rate-limiting. At higher temperature where Fe3O4 was further reduced to FeO and Fe 0, the initially formed metallic Fe 0 nuclei could decompose CO molecules and release O species. Both this coproduced O species and the lattice oxygen could react with CO molecules. Thus, the CO oxidation was not limited by the mobility of lattice oxygen, and the catalytic function of Au was revealed again. Carburization of metallic Fe, created by prereduction in H 2, revealed a distinct weight gain at 350 degrees C corresponding to Fe 3C formation, as subsequently confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Sustained carbon deposition ensued at 450 degrees C. In the cases of the 3% Au/gamma-Al 2O 3 and Au/ZrO 2 catalysts prepared by the same method, however, after exposure to CO in the same temperature range, no carbon deposit was observed, indicating that although Au nanoparticles could activate the absorbed oxygen molecules at low temperatures, they were not able to activate the lattice oxygen in the three catalyst supports or to dissociate the CO molecules directly.

Theory and simulation in heterogeneous gold catalysis

This critical review covers the application of quantum chemistry to the burgeoning area of the heterogeneous oxidation by Au. We focus on the most established reaction, the oxidation of CO at low temperature. The review begins with an overview of the methods available comparing the treatment of the electron-electron interaction and relativistic effects. The structure of Au particles and their interaction with oxide reviews is then discussed in detail. Calculations of the adsorption and reaction of CO and O2 are then considered and results from isolated and supported Au clusters compared (155 references).

CO oxidation catalyzed by single-walled helical gold nanotube

We study the catalytic capability of unsupported single-walled helical gold nanotubes Au(5,3) by using density functional theory. We use the CO oxidation as a benchmark probe to gain insights into high catalytic activity of the gold nanotubes. The CO oxidation, catalyzed by the Au(5,3) nanotube, proceeds via a two-step mechanism, CO + O2 --> CO2 +O and CO + O --> CO2. The CO oxidation is initiated by the CO + O2 --> OOCO --> CO2 + O reaction with an activation barrier of 0.29 eV. On the reaction path, a peroxo-type O-O-CO intermediate forms. Thereafter, the CO + O --> CO2 reaction proceeds along the reaction pathway with a very low barrier (0.03 eV). Note that the second reaction cannot be the starting point for the CO oxidation due to the energetically disfavored adsorption of free O2 on the gold nanotube. The high catalytic activity of the Au(5,3) nanotube can be attributed to the electronic resonance between electronic states of adsorbed intermediate species and Au atoms at the reaction site, particularly among the d states of Au atom and the antibonding 2pi* states of C-O and O1-O2, concomitant with a partial charge transfer. The presence of undercoordinated Au sites and the strain inherent in the helical gold nanotube also play important roles. Our study suggests that the CO oxidation catalyzed by the helical gold nanotubes is likely to occur at the room temperature.

First-principles calculations of hydrogen diffusion on rutile TiO2(110) surfaces

Density functional calculations are performed to study the H-atom diffusion on titanium dioxide (110) surface in the cases of water-molecule dissociation and splitting of the adjacent hydroxyl OH pair. It is shown that, when a water molecule is adsorbed at a surface oxygen-vacancy site, a fragment H atom of the water molecule tends to diffuse toward the nearest-neighboring bridging-oxygen sites by using a straight-line or relay-point path. As the result, a pair of surface hydroxyl OH is formed on the same oxygen row. In a thermal process, on the other hand, such OH pair favorably splits only by using a relay-point path, i.e., by transferring one H atom from a bridging-oxygen site to a next-neighboring one along the same oxygen row by way of another in-plane oxygen site. We found that the latter splitting reaction is activated around room temperature.

Origin of Oxide Sensitivity in Gold-Based Catalysts: A First Principle Study of CO Oxidation over Au Supported on Monoclinic and Tetragonal ZrO2

The catalytic performance of Au/oxide catalysts can vary significantly upon the change of oxide species or under different catalyst preparation conditions. Due to its complex nature, the physical origin of this phenomenon remains largely unknown. By extensive density functional theory calculations on a model system, CO oxidation on Au/ZrO2, this work demonstrates that the oxidation reaction is very sensitive to the oxide structure. The surface structure variation due to the transformation of the oxide phase or the creation of structural defects (e.g., steps) can greatly enhance the activity. We show that CO oxidation on typical Au/ZrO2 catalysts could be dominated by minority sites, such as monoclinic steps and tetragonal surfaces, the concentration of which is closely related to the size of oxide particle. Importantly, this variation in activity is difficult to understand following the traditional rules based on the O2 adsorption ability and the oxide reducibility. Instead, electronic structure analyses allow us to rationalize the results and point toward a general measure for CO + O2 activity, namely the p-bandwidth of O2, with important implications for Au/oxide catalysis.