Strong Size Effects in Supported Ionic Nanoparticles: Tailoring the Stability of NO x Storage Catalysts

Atomic force microscopy identification of Al-sites on ultrathin aluminum oxide film on NiAl(110)

Ultrathin alumina film formed by oxidation of NiAl(110) was studied by non-contact atomic force microscopy in an ultra high vacuum at room temperature with the quest to provide the ultimate understanding of structure and bonding of this complicated interface. Using a very stiff Si cantilever with significantly improved resolution, we have obtained images of this system with unprecedented resolution, surpassing all the previous results. In particular, we were able to unambiguously resolve all the differently coordinated aluminum atoms. This is of importance as the previous images provide very different image patterns, which cannot easily be reconciled with the existing structural models. Experiments are supported by extensive density functional theory modeling. We find that the system is strongly ionic and the atomic force microscopy images can reliably be understood from the electrostatic potential which provides an image model in excellent agreement with the experiments. However, in order to resolve the finer contrast features we have proposed a more sophisticated model based on more realistic approximants to the incommensurable alumina interface.

Reactions of NO2 with BaO/Pt(111) model catalysts: the effects of BaO film thickness and NO2 pressure on the formation of Ba(NOx)2 species

The adsorption and reaction of NO(2) on BaO (<1, ∼3, and >20 monolayer equivalent (MLE))/Pt(111) model systems were studied with temperature programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) as well as elevated pressure conditions. NO(2) reacts with sub-monolayer BaO (<1 MLE) to form nitrites only, whereas the reaction of NO(2) with BaO (∼3 MLE)/Pt(111) produces mainly nitrites and a small amount of nitrates under UHV conditions (P(NO(2))≈ 1.0 × 10(-9) Torr) at 300 K. In contrast, a thick BaO (>20 MLE) layer on Pt(111) reacts with NO(2) to form nitrite-nitrate ion pairs under the same conditions. At elevated NO(2) pressures (≥1.0 × 10(-5) Torr), however, BaO layers at all these three coverages convert to amorphous barium nitrates at 300 K. Upon annealing to 500 K, these amorphous barium nitrate layers transform into crystalline phases. The thermal decomposition of the thus-formed Ba(NO(x))(2) species is also influenced by the coverage of BaO on the Pt(111) substrate: at low BaO coverages, these species decompose at significantly lower temperatures in comparison with those formed on thick BaO films due to the presence of a Ba(NO(x))(2)/Pt interface where the decomposition can proceed at lower temperatures. However, the thermal decomposition of the thick Ba(NO(3))(2) films follows that of bulk nitrates. Results obtained from these BaO/Pt(111) model systems under UHV and elevated pressure conditions clearly demonstrate that both the BaO film thickness and the applied NO(2) pressure are critical in the Ba(NO(x))(2) formation and subsequent thermal decomposition processes.

Barium adsorption on the chemisorbed O(2 × 1)/Ni(110) surface

Barium adsorption on the O(2 × 1)/Ni(110) surface has been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy and work function measurements in combination with photoemission measurements. The study was focused on the low coverage regime from submonolayer to double monolayer. The results show that during development of the first layer of Ba on the surface, a two-dimensional incomplete barium oxide layer, BaO, forms. This BaO layer is interspersed by Ba chemisorbed atoms reacting directly with Ni atoms. As the second layer of Ba is completed, the adsorbate approaches the metallic phase due to the Ba-Ba interaction. The low energy Auger transition lines of Ba (75 eV) and BaO (68 eV) shift towards lower energies as the Ba coverage increases. Previous photoemission measurements by synchrotron radiation are used to interpret these energy shifts, which are closely related to the barium oxidation process on the surface. The analysis shows the importance of the extra-atomic relaxation energy due to (1) the polarization of the O(2-) anions from BaO and (2) the screening from the electron density at the Fermi level of the barium overlayer and the nickel substrate.

Reactivity of a thick BaO film supported on Pt(111): adsorption and reaction of NO2, H2O, and CO2

Reactions of NO2, H2O, and CO2 with a thick (>20 monolayer equivalent (MLE)) BaO film supported on Pt(111) were studied with temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). NO2 reacts with a thick BaO layer to form surface nitrite-nitrate ion pairs at 300 K, while only nitrates form at 600 K. In the thermal decomposition process of nitrite-nitrate ion pairs, first nitrites decompose and desorb as NO. Then nitrates decompose in two steps: at lower temperature with the release of NO2 and at higher temperature, nitrates dissociate to NO+O2. The thick BaO layer converts completely to Ba(OH)2 following the adsorption of H2O at 300 K. Dehydration/dehydroxylation of this hydroxide layer can be fully achieved by annealing to 550 K. CO2 also reacts with BaO to form BaCO3 that completely decomposes to regenerate BaO upon annealing to 825 K. However, the thick BaO film cannot be converted completely to Ba(NOx)2 or BaCO3 under the experimental conditions employed in this study.

Nitrite and nitrate formation on model NOx storage materials: on the influence of particle size and composition

A well-defined model-catalyst approach has been utilized to study the formation and decomposition of nitrite and nitrate species on a model NO(x) storage material. The model system comprises BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles of different size and stoichiometry, prepared under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions on Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110). Adsorption and reaction of NO(2) has been investigated by molecular beam (MB) methods and time-resolved IR reflection absorption spectroscopy (TR-IRAS) in combination with structural characterization by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The growth behavior and chemical composition of the BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles has been investigated previously. In this work we focus on the effect of particle size and stoichiometry on the reaction with NO(2). Particles of different size and of different Ba(2+) : Al(3+) surface ion ratio are prepared by varying the preparation conditions. It is shown that at 300 K the reaction mechanism is independent of particle size and composition, involving initial nitrite formation and subsequent transformation of nitrites into surface nitrates. The coordination geometry of the surface nitrates, however, changes characteristically with particle size. For small BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles high temperature (800 K) oxygen treatment gives rise to particle ripening, which has a minor effect on the NO(2) uptake behavior, however. STM shows that the morphology of the particle system is largely conserved during NO(2) exposure at 300 K. The reaction is limited to the formation of surface nitrites and nitrates, which are characterized by low thermal stability and completely decompose below 500 K. As no further sintering occurs before decomposition, NO(2) uptake and release is a fully reversible process. For large BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles, aggregates with different Ba(2+) : Al(3+) surface ion ratio were prepared. It was shown that the stoichiometry has a major effect on the kinetics of NO(2) uptake. For barium-aluminate-like particles with high Al(3+) concentration, the formation of nitrites and nitrates on the BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles at 300 K is slow, and kinetically restricted to the formation of surface species. Only at elevated temperature (500 K) are surface nitrates converted into well-defined bulk Ba(NO(3))(2). This bulk Ba(NO(3))(2) exhibits substantially higher thermal stability and undergoes restructuring and sintering before it decomposes at 700 K. For Ba(2+)-rich BaAl(2x)O(1+3x) particles, on the other hand, nitrate formation occurs at a much higher rate than for the barium-aluminate-like particles. Furthermore, nitrate formation is not limited to the surface, but NO(2) exposure gives rise to the formation of amorphous bulk Ba(NO(3))(2) particles even at 300 K.

On the local sensitivity of different IR techniques: Ba species relevant in NO(x) storage-reduction

IR spectroscopy is widely used to elucidate reaction mechanisms in NO(x) storage and reduction (NSR). Observed band positions and assignments of vibrational modes, however, differ remarkably among the various investigations. We report an IR study of barium species relevant in NSR, aiming to clarify the source of the reported discrepancies and different surface and bulk sensitivity of various IR measurement configurations. Four IR techniques, namely, transmission IR spectroscopy (TIRS), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IRS), polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), all suitable for in situ studies of the reaction system, were used. Depending on the IR technique certain bands undergo a clear band shift or disappearance, evidently showing different surface and bulk sensitivity. In spectra of barium nitrate recorded by the more bulk sensitive IR techniques, i.e. TIRS, ATR-IRS, and PM-IRRAS, fewer bands appeared than in the more surface sensitive DRIFTS spectra. This work constitutes a collection of IR spectra of reference barium compounds for the clarification of species present in the NSR catalyst system. The band position or the presence of certain bands assigned to the same chemical species may deviate if the spectra were measured by different IR techniques, especially if the compared IR techniques differ in surface/bulk sensitivity. This implies that the band assignment valid for spectra measured by DRIFTS can be transferred to TIRS, ATR-IRS, and PM-IRRAS only with precautions.