Long‐range poisoning of D2 dissociative chemisorption on Pt(111) by coadsorbed K

Turning aluminium into a noble-metal-like catalyst for low-temperature activation of molecular hydrogen

Activation of molecular hydrogen is the first step in producing many important industrial chemicals that have so far required expensive noble-metal catalysts and thermal activation. We demonstrate here that aluminium doped with very small amounts of titanium can activate molecular hydrogen at temperatures as low as 90 K. Using an approach that uses CO as a probe molecule, we identify the atomistic arrangement of the catalytically active sites containing Ti on Al(111) surfaces, combining infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy and first-principles modelling. CO molecules, selectively adsorbed on catalytically active sites, form a complex with activated hydrogen that is removed at remarkably low temperatures (115 K; possibly as a molecule). These results provide the first direct evidence that Ti-doped Al can carry out the essential first step of molecular hydrogen activation under nearly barrierless conditions, thereby challenging the monopoly of noble metals in hydrogen activation.

Alkali-induced enhancement of surface electronic polarizibility

From results of ab initio electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory for a set of prototype systems, we find alkali adsorbates to cause a dramatic enhancement of the electronic polarizability of the metal surface extending it several angstroms into the vacuum. This phenomenon is traceable to an unusual feature induced in the surface potential on alkali adsorption. The effect appears to be general, as we find it to be present on metals as varied as Pd and Cu, and helps explain the observed substantial decrease in the vibrational frequency of molecules when coadsorbed with alkalis on metal surfaces. Specifically, for two dissimilar molecules CO and O(2), we trace the softening of the frequencies of their stretching mode when coadsorbed with K on Pd(111) to the enhanced electronic polarizability.

Ab initio multireference configuration-interaction study of hydrogen molecule activation by Cs-promoted Pt clusters

The adsorption of the H2 molecule on CsnPt(5-n) bcc (111) clusters for Cs/Pt rates of 20%, 40%, and 80% is studied using ab initio multiconfigurational self-consistent field plus multireference configuration-interaction variational and perturbative calculations. The H2 interaction with the clusters is studied in ground and excited states with geometry optimization, where the hydrogen adsorption takes place by a Pt atom. These calculations are compared with those of H2 adsorption on Pt4. The most stable configurations of Cs/Pt4 and Cs2Pt3 clusters (Cs/Pt rates of 20% and 40%) are a doublet and a closed-shell singlet, respectively. Both clusters capture and activate the hydrogen molecule and their behaviors resemble Pt4. The H2 capture distances are, respectively, similar and smaller than Pt4 capture distances, while the H-H bond dissociation distances are similar and bigger than those of Pt4; however, none of them presents activation barriers. The most stable Cs4Pt cluster (Cs/Pt rate of 80%) is also a closed-shell singlet; it also captures and activates the hydrogen molecule and shows a different behavior as compared with Cs/Pt4, Cs2Pt3, and Pt4 clusters. The capture distance is quite smaller and is obtained after surmounting an activation barrier. For all clusters studied here, no hydrogen absorption was observed, only the adsorption of H2.

An insight into alkali promotion: a density functional theory study of CO dissociation on K/Rh(111)

The important role of alkali additives in heterogeneous catalysis is, to a large extent, related to the high promotion effect they have on many fundamental reactions. The wide application of alkali additives in industry does not, however, reflect a thorough understanding of the mechanism of their promotional abilities. To investigate the physical origin of the alkali promotion effect, we have studied CO dissociation on clean Rh(111) and K-covered Rh(111) surfaces using density functional theory. By varying the position of potassium atoms relative to a dissociating CO, we have mapped out the importance of different K effects on the CO dissociation reactions. The K-induced changes in the reaction pathways and reaction barriers have been determined; in particular, a large reduction of the CO dissociation barrier has been identified. A thorough analysis of this promotion effect allows us to rationalize both the electronic and the geometrical factors that govern alkali promotion effect: (i) The extent of barrier reductions depends strongly on how close K is to the dissociating CO. (ii) Direct K-O bonding that is in a very short range plays a crucial role in reducing the barrier. (iii) K can have a rather long-range effect on the TS structure, which could reduce slightly the barriers.