Effects of potassium on the chemisorption of CO2 and CO on the Mo2C/Mo(100) surface

The interaction of CO₂ with K-promoted Mo₂C/Mo(100) has been studied with high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, work function measurements and temperature-programmed desorption. Pre-adsorbed potassium dramatically affects the adsorption behavior of CO₂ on the Mo₂C/Mo(100) surface. It increases the rate of adsorption, the binding energy of CO₂ and it induces the dissociation of CO₂ through the formation of negatively charged CO₂. Potassium adatoms also promote the dissociation of adsorbed CO over Mo₂C. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effects of a potassium overlayer on the reaction pathway of CH2 and C2H5 on Rh(111)

The effect of potassium on the reaction pathways of adsorbed CH₂ and C₂H₅ species on Rh(111) was investigated by means of reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature programmed desorption (TDS). Hydrocarbon fragments were produced by thermal and photo-induced dissociation of the corresponding iodo compounds. Potassium adatoms markedly stabilized the adsorbed CH₂ and converted it into C₂H₄, the formation of which was not observed for K-free Rh(111). New routes of the surface reactions of C₂H₅ have been also opened in the presence of potassium, namely its transformation into butane and butene.     

Photocatalytic reaction of H2O+CO2 over pure and doped Rh/TiO2

In the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol in aqueous suspensions of TiO₂ and Rh/TiO₂, the effects of doping the TiO₂ with W⁶⁺ were investigated.This laboratory is a part of the Center for Catalysis, Surface and Material Science at the University of Szeged.     

FTIR study of the photoinduced dissociation of CO2 on titania-supported noble metals

The effect of illumination on the activation and dissociation of CO₂ was investigated at 190 and 300 K on titania-supported noble metals by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photoinduced dissociation of CO₂ (through the formation of resulting in CO_(a) occurred on Pt/TiO₂, Rh/TiO₂ and Ir/TiO₂; no CO_(a) formation, however, was observed on Pd/TiO₂ and Ru/TiO₂. It is assumed that the CO₂ on supported noble metals is bonded to the surface with both C (linked to a noble metal atom) and one of the O atoms (linked to the oxygen vacancy of the supports), and an extended charge transfer induced by illumination leads to the cleavage of a C–O bond. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The kinetics of CO2 hydrogenation on a Rh foil promoted by titania overlayers

Submonolayer deposits of titania on a Rh foil have been found to increase the rate of CO₂ hydrogenation. The primary product, methane, exhibits a maximum rate at a TiO _x coverage of 0.5 ML which is a factor of 15 higher than that over the clean Rh surface. The rate of ethane formation displays a maximum which is 70 times that over the unpromoted Rh foil; however, the selectivity for methane remains in excess of 99%. The apparent activation energy for methane formation and the dependence of the rate on H₂ and CO₂ partial pressure have been determined both for the bare Rh surface and the titania-promoted surface. These rate parameters show very small variations as titania is added to the Rh catalyst. The methanation of CO₂ is proposed to start with the dissociation of CO₂ into CO_(a) and O_(a), and then proceed through steps which are identical to those for the hydrogenation of CO. The increase in the rate of CO₂ hydrogenation in the presence of titania is attributed to an interaction between the adsorbed CO, released by CO₂ dissociation, and Ti³⁺ ions located at the edge of TiO _x islands covering the surface. Differences in the effects of titania promotion on the methanation of CO₂ and CO are discussed in terms of the mechanisms that have been proposed for these two reactions.     

Supported Rh catalysts for methane partial oxidation prepared by OM-CVD of Rh(acac)(CO)2

The organometallics chemical vapour deposition (OM-CVD) technique, using Rh(acac)(CO)₂ as a precursor, was employed for the preparation of heterogeneous Rh catalysts supported on low surface area refractory oxides (α-Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, MgO and La₂O₃). Prepared systems were tested in the methane catalytic partial oxidation (CH₄-CPO) reaction in a fixed bed reactor and compared to a reference catalyst prepared from impregnation of Rh₄(CO)₁₂.Catalysts supported on Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ and MgO show better or comparable performances with respect to the reference system.Complete decomposition of Rh precursor during formation of the metal phase under reductive conditions was investigated by TPRD and confirmed by infrared and mass spectrometry data.Supported Rh phase was characterized by CO and H₂ chemisorption, CO-DRIFT spectroscopy and HRTEM microscopy in fresh and aged selected samples. Rh(I) isolated sites and Rh(0) metal particles were found on fresh catalysts; after ageing an extensive reconstruction occurs mainly consisting in a sintering of Rh isolate sites to metal particles but without large increase in mean particles size.Catalytic performances and Rh species balance were found to be dependent on the support material.     

Role of support in reforming of CH4 with CO2 over Rh catalysts

The reforming of CH₄ with CO₂ over supported Rh catalysts has been studied over a range of temperatures (550–1000 K). A significant effect of the support on the catalytic activity was observed, where the order was Rh/Al₂O₃>Rh/TiO₂>Rh/SiO₂. The catalytic activity of Rh/SiO₂ was promoted markedly by physical mixing of Rh/SiO₂ with metal oxides such as Al₂O₃, TiO₂, and MgO, indicating a synergetic effect. The role of the metal oxides used as the support and the physical mixture may be ascribed to the promotion in dissociation of CO₂ on the surface of Rh, since the CH₄ + CO₂ reaction is first order in the pressure of CO₂, suggesting that CO₂ dissociation is the rate-determining step. The possible model of the synergetic effect was proposed.     

CO2 Hydrogenation on Rh/TiO2 Previously Reduced at Different Temperatures

Hydrogenation of CO₂ was studied on 1% Rh/TiO₂ reduced at different temperatures. The interaction of CO₂ with the catalyst and that of the CO₂+H₂ mixture was also studied. FTIR and TPD measurements revealed that CO₂ dissociation depends on the reduction temperature of the catalyst. In the surface reaction, besides Rh carbonyl hydride, formate groups and different carbonates and surface formyl species were also formed. The surface concentration of the formyl group depended on the reduction temperature. The initial rate of CO₂ hydrogenation significantly increased with increasing reduction temperature but after some time it drastically decreased. The promotion effect of the reduction temperature was explained by the formation of oxygen vacancies on the perimeter of the Rh/TiO₂ interface, which can be re-oxidized by the adsorption of CO₂ and H₂O.     

Evidence for strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) in Rh/TiO2 system

Rh(1 wt%)/TiO₂ samples were prepared by both incipient wetness and ion-exchange methods and were characterised by temperature programmed desorption (TPD), electron spin resonance (ESR), mass spectrometry (MS) and hydrogen chemisorption. The incipient wetness sample was found to be more favourable for the onset of SMSI state. The reduction of Ti⁴⁺ to Ti³⁺ during hydrogen spillover or due to the lattice oxygen (O^2–) deficiency seemed to be responsible for the SMSI state. A mechanistic pathway is proposed to explain the onset of SMSI behaviour.     

FT-IR studies of decarbonylation and recarbonylation of [Pt3(CO)6] 5 2− supported on dehydrated SiO2

Decarbonylation of [Pt₃(CO)₆]₅ on SiO₂ at 373 K produced [Pt₃(t-CO)₃]₅ species, where all the terminal CO remained. Complete decarbonylation at 423 K was not observed, which led to aggregation at 473 K. The interaction of some Pt with SiO₂ inhibited complete recarbonylation to [Pt₃(CO)₆]₅.     

FTIR studies on the CO,CO2 and H2 co-adsorption over Ru-RuO x /TiO2 catalyst

FTIR spectra of a Ru-RuO_x/TiO₂ catalyst obtained on co-adsorption of CO, CO₂ and H₂ in the temperature range of 300–500 K were found to be the sum total of corresponding spectra observed during methanation of individual oxides. The two oxides compete for metal sites and at each temperature they reacted simultaneously to form distinct transient Ru(CO)_n type species even though the nature, the stability and the reactivity of these species were different in the two cases. The monocarbonyl species formed during adsorption/reaction of CO alone or of CO + H₂ were bonded more strongly than those formed during CO₂ + H₂ reaction.     

Hydrogenation of CO2, acetone,and CO on a Rh foil promoted by titania overlayers

The effects of submonolayer deposits of titania on the hydrogenation of CO₂, acetone, and CO on a Rh foil have been investigated. Titania has been found to promote all three of the hydrogenation reactions, with each reaction exhibiting a maximum rate at a titania coverage of 0.5 ML. The maximum rate for CO₂ hydrogenation is 15 times that of the bare Rh surface. Acetone hydrogenation shows a 6-fold rate enhancement, while CO displays a 3-fold increase. Changes in the selectivities for each reaction are also observed upon titania promotion. The effects of titania on these reactions are attributed to an interaction between C-O bonds and Ti³⁺ ions located at the perimeter of titania islands.     

In-situ XAFS Analysis of Y Zeolite-Supported Rh Catalysts during High-Pressure Hydrogenation of CO2

In-situ XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) analysis under high-pressure, high-temperature reaction conditions was done to clarify the effect of Li doping on the structures of Rh species in Rh ion-exchanged NaY zeolite catalysts (RhY). The analysis showed that Rh species in RhY were reduced at a lower temperature than those in Li-doped RhY (Li/RhY). The reduction of Rh in RhY at a lower temperature was related to the formation of amorphous Rh oxide species during the initial stage of reduction, which was not observed in Li/RhY catalysts. The average particle size of metallic Rh species formed under the reaction conditions was 1.3 nm for RhY catalysts and 0.8 nm for Li/RhY catalysts. During exposure to either CO or air, the metallic Rh species in RhY were more easily subject to structural changes than the metallic Rh species in Li/RhY. These differences in the properties of Rh species between the RhY and Li/RhY catalysts resulted from the replacement of hydroxyl groups on the zeolite surface by O–Li compounds, and caused different catalytic activities during CO₂ hydrogenation.     

Rate constant for CO insertion in the hydroformylation of ethene on Rh/SiO2 as determined by pulse surface reaction rate analysis

A new method of pulse surface reaction rate analysis (PSRA) was proposed for determining the rate constant of the step of CO insertion in ethene hydroformylation. On pulsing ethene onto Rh/SiO₂ via the continuous flow of a mixture of CO and H₂, propanal was found to be produced gradually. It is revealed here that rate analysis of the dynamic behavior of produced propanal allows the determination of the rate constant for CO insertion. The effect of metal carbonate and oxides, added to the catalyst, on CO insertion was discussed in terms of the rate constant determined.     

Complexes in the Photocatalytic Reaction of CO(2) and H(2)O: Theoretical Studies

Complexes (H(2)O/CO(2), e-(H(2)O/CO(2)) and h(+)-(H(2)O/CO(2))) in the reaction system of CO(2) photoreduction with H(2)O were researched by B3LYP and MP2 methods along with natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Geometries of these complexes were optimized and frequencies analysis performed. H(2)O/CO(2) captured photo-induced electron and hole produced e-(H(2)O/CO(2)) and h(+)-(H(2)O/CO(2)), respectively. The results revealed that CO(2) and H(2)O molecules could be activated by the photo-induced electrons and holes, and each of these complexes possessed two isomers. Due to the effect of photo-induced electrons, the bond length of C=O and H-O were lengthened, while H-O bonds were shortened, influenced by holes. The infrared (IR) adsorption frequencies of these complexes were different from that of CO(2) and H(2)O, which might be attributed to the synergistic effect and which could not be captured experimentally.     

The catalytic oxidation of CO on superconductor Ba2YCu3O7–8

The measurements of MS-TPD, TPRS, the electrical conductivity and kinetics on Ba₂YCu₃O_7-8 show that the catalytic activity of CO oxidation is closely related to properties such as the amounts and sites of oxygen, and electrical conductivity. Based on the experimental results a reaction mechanism has been suggested.     

Promotion through gas phase induced surface segregation: methanol synthesis from CO, CO2 and H2 over Ni/Cu(100)

We have studied the rate of methanol formation over Cu(100) and Ni/Cu(100) from various mixtures of CO, CO₂ and H₂. It is found that the presence of submonolayer quantities of Ni leads to a strong increase in the rate of methanol formation from mixtures containing all three components whereas Ni does not influence the rate from mixtures of CO₂/H₂ and CO/H₂, respectively. The influence of the partial pressures of CO and CO₂ on the rate indicates that the role of CO is strictly promoting. From temperature-programmed desorption spectra it follows that the surface concentration of Ni depends strongly on the partial pressure of CO. In this way the increase in reactivity is interpreted as a CO-induced structural promotion introduced by the stronger bonding of CO to Ni as compared to Cu. It is suggested that this type of promotional behavior will be of general importance in existent catalysts and perhaps even more relevant in the development of new or improved bimetallic catalysts. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adsorption of CH3 and its reactions with CO2 over TiO2

The adsorption, decomposition of CH₃ and its reactions with CO₂ were followed by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy combined with mass spectrometry. Methyl radicals were produced by the pyrolysis of azomethane. Absorption bands, observed at room temperature adsorption, were attributed to adsorbed CH₃ and CH₃O species. The decomposition of adsorbed CH₃ in vacuum started above 400 K and was accelerated by CO₂. In the study of the interaction of methane with titania, activated in different ways, we found no convincing spectroscopic evidence for the activation of methane at 300 K. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Poisoning of the adsorption of CO, O2 and D2 on Pt(111) by preadsorbed H2O

We have measured the influence of adsorbed H₂O on the sticking coefficients and saturation coverages of CO, O₂ and D₂ on Pt(111) at ∼100 K. Strong poisoning is observed for all three gases. For O₂ and D₂, the surface is essentially totally poisoned at 1 monolayer (ML) water coverage. For CO, the effect is weaker, with some CO adsorption still occurring at 2–3 ML H₂O. The influence of these results on the kinetics of the CO and H₂ oxidation reactions are discussed briefly. It is concluded that the influence of water must be included in kinetics simulations, at least at low temperatures, when significant humidity levels are present in inlet gas mixtures, or produced by the reactions themselves. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.