The role of nanosized gold particles in adsorption and oxidation of carbon monoxide over Au/Fe2O3 Catalyst

The presence of gold is found to promote the development of weakly bonded (CO)_ad species over the surface of Au/Fe₂O₃ catalyst during interaction with carbon monoxide (CO) or a mixture of carbon monoxide and oxygen. The concentration of these species and the nature of the bonding depend on the gold particle size. No such species are formed for gold particles larger than ∼11 nm or over gold-free iron oxide. The bulk carbonate-like species, formed in the process with the involvement of the hydroxy groups of the support, are merely side products not responsible for the low temperature activity of this catalyst.