Oscillatory behaviour in the NO–hydrogen reactions over Pt-group metal surfaces

Evolution of the structure and chemical state of Pd nanoparticles during the in situ catalytic reduction of NO with H2

An in-depth understanding of the fundamental structure of catalysts during operation is indispensable for tailoring future efficient and selective catalysts. We report the evolution of the structure and oxidation state of ZrO(2)-supported Pd nanocatalysts (∼5 nm) during the in situ reduction of NO with H(2) using X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Prior to the onset of the reaction (≤120 °C), a NO-induced redispersion of our initial metallic Pd nanoparticles over the ZrO(2) support was observed, and Pd(δ+) species were detected. This process parallels the high production of N(2)O observed at the onset of the reaction (>120 °C), while at higher temperatures (≥150 °C) the selectivity shifts mainly toward N(2) (∼80%). Concomitant with the onset of N(2) production, the Pd atoms aggregate again into large (6.5 nm) metallic Pd nanoparticles, which were found to constitute the active phase for the H(2)-reduction of NO. Throughout the entire reaction cycle, the formation and stabilization of PdO(x) was not detected. Our results highlight the importance of in situ reactivity studies to unravel the microscopic processes governing catalytic reactivity.

Surface-nitrogen removal in a steady-state NO + H2 reaction on Pd(110)

Surface-nitrogen removal steps were analyzed in the course of a catalyzed NO + H(2) reaction on Pd(110) by angle-resolved mass spectroscopy combined with cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. Four removal steps, i.e., (i) the associative process of nitrogen atoms, 2N(a) --> N(2)(g), (ii) the decomposition of the intermediate, NO(a) + N(a) --> N(2)O(a) --> N(2)(g) + O(a), (iii) its desorption, N(2)O(a) --> N(2)O(g), and (iv) the desorption as ammonia, N(a) + 3H(a) --> NH(3)(g), are operative in a comparable order. Above 600 K, process (i) is predominant, whereas the others largely contribute below 600 K. Process (iv) becomes significant at H(2) pressures above a critical value, about half the NO pressure. Hydrogen was a stronger reagent than CO toward NO reduction and relatively enhanced the N(a) associative process.

External noise imposed on the reaction-diffusion system CO+O2-->CO2 on Ir(111) surfaces: experiment and theory

We study experimentally and theoretically the influence of noise on the fractions of CO and oxygen in the constant gas flow directed at an Ir(111) surface during CO oxidation. Depending on the noise strength and the fraction Y of CO we observe in the deterministically bistable region a large variety of different types of behavior. These include bistable behavior for small noise intensities, transitions from the upper to the lower branch of the bistable loop and vice versa, island nucleation and growth and noise-induced switching. Near the boundary of the bistable region and in the presence of noise the transition between the two branches takes place via very slow domain wall motion with time scales of the order of 10(4)-10(5) s. The experiments were carried out in an UHV system for which the mass flow could be controlled very precisely. The modeling was using the reaction-diffusion system underlying the reaction studied for which all the kinetic coefficients are known rather precisely. Our numerical analysis was performed for one and two spatial dimensions showing qualitatively similar behavior. The comparison between the experimental results and the modeling shows semiquantitative to quantitative agreement.