Thermodynamic, electronic and structural properties of Cu/CeO2 surfaces and interfaces from first-principles DFT+U calculations

The thermodynamic, structural and electronic properties of Cu-CeO(2) (ceria) surfaces and interfaces are investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT+U) calculations. We focus on model systems consisting of Cu atoms (i) supported by stoichiometric and reduced CeO(2) (111) surfaces, (ii) dispersed as substitutional solid solution at the same surface, as well as on (iii) the extended Cu(111)/CeO(2)(111) interface. Extensive charge reorganization at the metal-oxide contact is predicted for ceria-supported Cu adatoms and nanoparticles, leading to Cu oxidation, ceria reduction, and interfacial Ce(3+) ions. The calculated thermodynamics predict that Cu adatoms on stoichiometric surfaces are more stable than on O vacancies of reduced surfaces at all temperatures and pressures relevant for catalytic applications, even in extremely reducing chemical environments. This suggests that supported Cu nanoparticles do not nucleate at surface O vacancies of the oxide, at variance with many other metal/ceria systems. In oxidizing conditions, the solid solutions are shown to be more stable than the supported systems. Substitutional Cu ions form characteristic CuO(4) units. These promote an easy and reversible O release without the reduction of Ce ions. The study of the extended CeO(2)(111)/Cu(111) interface predicts the full reduction of the interfacial ceria trilayer. Cu nanoparticles supported by ceria are proposed to lie above a subsurface layer of Ce(3+) ions that extends up to the perimeter of the metal-oxide interface.     

CO oxidation on inverse CeO(x)/Cu(111) catalysts: high catalytic activity and ceria-promoted dissociation of O2

A Cu(111) surface displays a low activity for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (2CO + O(2) → 2CO(2)). Depending on the temperature, background pressure of O(2), and the exposure time, one can get chemisorbed O on Cu(111) or a layer of Cu(2)O that may be deficient in oxygen. The addition of ceria nanoparticles (NPs) to Cu(111) substantially enhances interactions with the O(2) molecule and facilitates the oxidation of the copper substrate. In images of scanning tunneling microscopy, ceria NPs exhibit two overlapping honeycomb-type moire? structures, with the larger ones (H(1)) having a periodicity of 4.2 nm and the smaller ones (H(2)) having a periodicity of 1.20 nm. After annealing CeO(2)/Cu(111) in O(2) at elevated temperatures (600-700 K), a new phase of a Cu(2)O(1+x) surface oxide appears and propagates from the ceria NPs. The ceria is not only active for O(2) dissociation, but provides a much faster channel for oxidation than the step edges of Cu(111). Exposure to CO at 550-750 K led to a partial reduction of the ceria NPs and the removal of the copper oxide layer. The CeO(x)/Cu(111) systems have activities for the 2CO + O(2) → 2CO(2) reaction that are comparable or larger than those reported for surfaces of expensive noble metals such as Rh(111), Pd(110), and Pt(100). Density-functional calculations show that the supported ceria NPs are able to catalyze the oxidation of CO due to their special electronic and chemical properties. The configuration of the inverse oxide/metal catalyst opens new interesting routes for applications in catalysis.     

Reaction of SO2 with AuCeO2(111): importance of O vacancies in the activation of gold

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission was used to study the adsorption and chemistry of SO(2) on AuCeO(2)(111) and AuO(x)CeO(2) surfaces. The heat of adsorption of the molecule on Au nanoparticles supported on stoichiometric CeO(2)(111) was 4-7 kcalmol larger than on Au(111). However, there was negligible dissociation of SO(2) on the AuCeO(2)(111) surfaces. The full decomposition of SO(2) was observed only after introducing O vacancies in the ceria support. AuO(x)CeO(2) surfaces were found to be much less chemically active than AuCeO(2)(111) or AuCeO(2-x)(111) surfaces. The active sites in {Au + AuO(x)}ceria catalysts should involve pure gold nanoparticles in contact with O vacancies.     

Effects of deposited Pt particles on the reducibility of CeO2(111)

The interaction of Pt particles with the regular CeO(2)(111) surface has been studied using Pt(8) clusters as representative examples. The atomic and electronic structure of the resulting model systems have been obtained through periodic spin-polarized density functional calculations using the PW91 exchange-correlation potential corrected with the inclusion of a Hubbard U parameter. The focus is on the effect of the metal-support interaction on the surface reducibility of ceria. Several initial geometries and orientations of Pt(8) with respect to the ceria substrate have been explored. It has been found that deposition of Pt(8) over the ceria surface results in spontaneous oxidation of the supported particle with a concomitant reduction of up to two Ce(4+) cations to Ce(3+). Oxygen vacancy formation on the CeO(2)(111) surface and oxygen spillover to the adsorbed particle have also been considered. The presence of the supported Pt(8) particles has a rather small effect (～0.2 eV) on the O vacancy formation energy. However, it is predicted that the spillover of atomic oxygen from the substrate to the metal particle greatly facilitates the formation of oxygen vacancies: the calculated energy required to transfer an oxygen atom from the CeO(2)(111) surface to the supported Pt(8) particle is only 1.00 eV, i.e. considerably smaller than 2.25 eV necessary to form an oxygen vacancy on the bare regular ceria surface. This strongly suggests that the propensity of ceria systems to store and release oxygen is directly affected by the presence of supported Pt particles.     

In situ characterization of Pt catalysts supported on ceria modified TiO2 for the WGS reaction: influence of ceria loading

This work analyzes the influence of cerium content (6-15 wt%) on a TiO(2) support over the structure and water gas shift (WGS) activity of Pt catalysts. The structural properties of these Pt/Ce-TiO(2) catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM and XANES. Physicochemical characterization of the catalysts showed differences in the structure and dispersion of Ce entities on the support with Ce loading. For the samples with low ceria content (6 wt%), cerium is deposited on the support in the form of CeO(x) clusters in a highly dispersed state in close interaction with the Ti atoms. The formation of CeO(x) clusters at low Ce-loading on the support facilitates the dispersion of small particles of Pt and improves the reducibility of ceria component at low temperatures. The changes in platinum dispersion and support reducibility with Ce-loading on the TiO(2) support lead to significant differences in the WGS activity. Pt supported on the sample with lower Ce content (6 wt%) shows better activity than those corresponding to catalysts with higher Ce content (15 wt%). Activity measurements coupled with catalysts characterization suggest that the improvement in the reducibility of the support with lower Ce content was associated with the presence of CeO(x) clusters of high reducibility that improve the chemical activity of the oxide-metal interfaces at which the WGS reaction takes place.     

The synergistic effects of the Cu-CeO2(111) catalysts on the adsorption and dissociation of water molecules

The interaction of water molecules with the Cu-CeO(2)(111) catalyst (Cu/CeO(2) and Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2)) is studied systematically by using the DFT+U method. Although both molecular and dissociative adsorption states of water are observed on all the considered Cu-CeO(2)(111) systems, the dissociation is preferable thermodynamically. Furthermore, the dissociation of water molecule relates to the geometric structure (e.g. whether or not there are oxygen vacancies; whether or not the reduced substrate retains a fluorite structure) and the electronic structure (e.g. whether or not there is reduced cerium, Ce(3+)) of the substrate.In addition, the adsorption of water molecules induces variations of the electronic structure of the substrate, especially for Cu/CeO(2-x)(111)-B (a Cu atom adsorbed symmetrically above the vacancy of the reduced ceria) and highly reduced Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2)(111), i.e. the Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2-x)(111)-h. The variations of electronic structure promote the dissociation of water for the highly reduced system Cu(0.08)Ce(0.92)O(2-x)(111)-h. More importantly, the improvement of WGS reaction by Cu-ceria is expected to be by the associative route through different intermediates.     

DRIFTS investigation and DFT calculation of the adsorption of CO on Pt/TiO2, Pt/CeO2 and FeOx/Pt/CeO2

Molecular structures and vibrational spectra of the CO species adsorbed on the Pt/TiO2, Pt/CeO2 and FeOx/Pt/CeO2 have been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculation and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The geometrical structures and vibrational frequencies were obtained at the MPW1PW91/SDD level. Theoretical calculation shows that the calculated IR spectra were in good agreement with the experimental results. The calculated results clarify the assignment of the adsorbed CO species on the surface of Pt/TiO2, Pt/CeO2 and FeOx/Pt/CeO2.     

Enhanced reactivity of Pt nanoparticles supported on ceria thin films during ethylene dehydrogenation

The adsorption and reaction of ethylene on Pt/CeO(2-x)/Cu(111) model catalysts were studied by means of high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-PES) in conjunction with resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPES). The dehydrogenation mechanism is compared to the HR-PES data obtained on a Pt(111) single crystal under identical conditions. It was found that the Pt nanoparticle system shows a substantially enhanced reactivity and several additional reaction pathways. In sharp contrast to Pt(111), partial dehydrogenation of ethylene on the supported Pt nanoparticles already starts at temperatures as low as 100 K. Similar to the single crystal surface, dehydrogenation occurs via the isomer ethylidene (CHCH(3)) and then mainly via ethylidyne (CCH(3)). In the temperature region between 100 and 250 K there is strong evidence for spillover of hydrocarbon fragments to the ceria support. In addition, splitting of ethylene to C(1) fragments is more facile than on Pt(111), giving rise to the formation of CH species and CO in the temperature region between 250 and 400 K. Upon further annealing, carbonaceous deposits are formed at 450 K. By heating to 700 K, these carbon deposits are completely removed from the surface by reaction with oxygen, provided by reverse spillover of oxygen from the ceria support.     

Interface-controlled synthesis of CeO2(111) and CeO2(100) and their structural transition on Pt(111)

Ceria-based catalytic materials are known for their crystal-face-dependent catalytic properties. To obtain a molecular-level understanding of their surface chemistry, controlled synthesis of ceria with well-defined surface structures is required. We have thus studied the growth of CeO_x nanostructures (NSs) and thin films on Pt(111). The strong metal-oxide interaction has often been invoked to explain catalytic processes over the Pt/CeO_x catalysts. However, the Pt-CeO_x interaction has not been understood at the atomic level. We show here that the interfacial interaction between Pt and ceria could indeed affect the surface structures of ceria, which could subsequently determine their catalytic chemistry. While ceria on Pt(111) typically exposes the CeO₂(111) surface, we found that the structures of ceria layers with a thickness of three layers or less are highly dynamic and dependent on the annealing temperatures, owing to the electronic interaction between Pt and CeO_x. A two-step kinetically limited growth procedure was used to prepare the ceria film that fully covers the Pt(111) substrate. For a ceria film of ~3–4 monolayer (ML) thickness on Pt(111), annealing in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) at 1000 K results in a surface of CeO₂ (100), stabilized by a c-Ce₂O₃(100) buffer layer. Further oxidation at 900 K transforms the surface of the CeO₂(100) thin film into a hexagonal CeO₂(111) surface.     

铜-氧化铈界面:几何及电子结构

纳米催化材料的性能主要由粒子尺寸、形貌和界面决定,即活性位点的电子及几何结构.尺寸、形貌可控的纳米催化材料的合成及其反应性能的研究,即催化剂的构效关系,一直是催化领域的研究热点.氧化物负载的金属催化剂广泛应用于多相催化反应过程.基于氧化铈优异的氧化还原性能, Cu/CeO2催化剂在CO氧化、N2O消除、水气变换、甲醇合成等反应中表现出优异性能.其中,通过铜物种与氧化铈表面化学键合形成的金属-载体界面通常被认为是催化活性中心.铜物种和氧化铈的相互作用主要体现在氧化铈固定铜物种,而铜物种促进氧化铈的氧化还原能力,涉及Cu^2+/Cu^+/Cu^0和Ce^3+/Ce^4+之间电子的传输和转移.Cu/CeO2催化剂活性位的原子结构与金属-载体相互作用程度密切相关.氧化铈形貌和铜负载量是决定界面电子和几何结构的重要因素.常见的纳米氧化铈形貌包括纳米粒子(多面体)、纳米棒和纳米立方体,可分别选择性暴露(111)、(110)和(100)晶面;这些晶面上原子配位环境和化学性能决定了铜-氧化铈的键合方式和界面结构.与暴露{100}晶面的纳米立方体相比,主要暴露{100}/{110}镜面的氧化铈纳米棒、暴露{111}/{100}晶面的纳米粒子与铜物种具有更强的金属-载体相互作用程度,也更有利于铜物种的分散.铜的负载量也显著影响铜物种在特定氧化铈表面的分散度和化学状态;随着铜负载量的增加,可在氧化铈表面形成层状铜、铜团簇和铜纳米粒子.通常情况下,低负载量有利于单层、双层铜物种的形成,高负载量时则出现多层铜和铜纳米粒子.催化活性位通常是由铜原子与氧化铈上的氧空穴相互作用产生,与氧化铈表面氧空穴的数量和密度密切相关,即氧化铈形貌.本文总结了Cu/CeO2催化剂的研究进展,讨论了氧化铈形貌和铜负载量对铜物种分散度和化学状态的影响规律,总结了铜氧化铈界面结构的多维度表征结果,比较了Cu/CeO2催化剂在CO氧化、水气变换及甲醇合成中的活性位结构和反应机制.     

氧化铈形貌对Au/CeO2催化剂催化氧化CO反应活性的影响

采用水热合成法制备了形貌规则的纳米氧化铈颗粒,分别为棒状、立方体和多面体,通过溶胶沉积法将金颗粒沉积到不同形貌氧化铈表面制得了Au/CeO2催化剂.考察了催化剂载体的不同形貌对CO催化氧化反应活性的影响.实验结果表明,棒状(110 100)和多面体(111 100)氧化铈作为载体时的催化剂活性比立方体(100)作为载体时的活性高.在低温段,多面体氧化铈作为载体的催化剂表现出较高活性,而在高温范围,棒状氧化铈作为载体的催化剂的催化活性最好.     

Pt/Al2O3和Pt/CeO2/Al2O3催化甲烷部分氧化制合成气反应

研究了Pt/Al₂O₃和Pt/CeO₂/Al₂O₃对甲烷部分氧化制合成气反应的催化活性,发现Pt/CeO₂/Al₂O₃显示了更高的甲烷转化率和合成气选择性.用H₂-TPR、H₂-TPD、SEM-EDX和XRD等技术对催化剂进行了表征.CeO₂和Pt相互作用促进Pt在催化剂表面的分散,抑制Pt在催化剂表面的迁移;降低了催化剂的燃烧活性,提高了催化剂的部分氧化活性和选择性,可避免因催化剂床层局部温度过高而导致催化剂活性下降或失活,提高了催化剂的稳定性.同时,CeO₂通过促进水汽变换反应使反应体系迅速达到平衡,提高了催化剂对H₂的选择性.     

Activation of gold on titania: adsorption and reaction of SO(2) on Au/TiO(2)(110)

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission and first-principles density-functional slab calculations were used to study the interaction of gold with titania and the chemistry of SO(2) on Au/TiO(2)(110) surfaces. The deposition of Au nanoparticles on TiO(2)(110) produces a system with an extraordinary ability to adsorb and dissociate SO(2). In this respect, Au/TiO(2) is much more chemically active than metallic gold or stoichiometric titania. On Au(111) and rough polycrystalline surfaces of gold, SO(2) bonds weakly and desorbs intact at temperatures below 200 K. For the adsorption of SO(2) on TiO(2)(110) at 300 K, SO(4) is the only product (SO(2) + O(oxide) --> SO(4,ads)). In contrast, Au/TiO(2)(110) surfaces (theta;(Au) < or = 0.5 ML) fully dissociate the SO(2) molecule under identical reaction conditions. Interactions with titania electronically perturb gold, making it more chemically active. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results show quite clearly that not only gold is perturbed when gold and titania interact. The adsorbed gold, on its part, enhances the reactivity of titania by facilitating the migration of O vacancies from the bulk to the surface of the oxide. In general, the complex coupling of these phenomena must be taken into consideration when trying to explain the unusual chemical and catalytic activity of Au/TiO(2). In many situations, the oxide support can be much more than a simple spectator.     

First-principles investigation of transition metal atom M (M = Cu, Ag, Au) adsorption on CeO2(110)

Transition metal atom M (M = Cu, Ag, Au) adsorption on CeO(2)(110), a technologically important catalytic support surface, is investigated with density-functional theory within the DFT+U formalism. A set of model configurations was generated by placing M at three surface sites, viz., on top of an O, an O bridge site, and a Ce bridge site. Prior to DFT optimization, small distortions in selected Ce-O distances were imposed to explore the energetics associated with reduction of Ce(4+) to Ce(3+) due to charge transfer to Ce during M adsorption. Charge redistribution is confirmed with spin density isosurfaces and site projected density of states. We demonstrate that Cu and Au atoms can be oxidized to Cu(2+) and Au(2+), although the adsorption energy, E(ads), of Au(2+) is less favorable and, unlike Cu(2+), it has not been experimentally observed. Oxidation of Ag always results in Ag(+). For M adsorption at an O bridge site, E(ads)(2NN) > E(ads)(3NN) > E(ads)(1NN) where NN denotes the nearest neighbor Ce(3+) site relative to M. Alternatively, for M adsorption at a Ce bridge site, E(ads)(3NN) > E(ads)(2NN) > E(ads)(1NN). The adsorption behavior of M on CeO(2) (110) is compared with M adsorption on CeO(2)(111).     

A theoretical study of surface reduction mechanisms of CeO(2)(111) and (110) by H(2).

Reaction mechanisms for the interactions between CeO(2)(111) and (110) surfaces are investigated using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both standard DFT and DFT+U calculations to examine the effect of the localization of Ce 4f states on the redox chemistry of H(2)-CeO(2) interactions are described. For mechanistic studies, molecular and dissociative local minima are initially located by placing an H(2) molecule at various active sites of the CeO(2) surfaces. The binding energies of physisorbed species optimized using the DFT and DFT+U methods are very weak. The dissociative adsorption reactions producing hydroxylated surfaces are all exothermic; exothermicities at the DFT level range from 4.1 kcal mol(-1) for the (111) to 26.5 kcal mol(-1) for the (110) surface, while those at the DFT+U level are between 65.0 kcal mol(-1) for the (111) and 81.8 kcal mol(-1) for the (110) surface. Predicted vibrational frequencies of adsorbed OH and H(2)O species on the surfaces are in line with available experimental and theoretical results. Potential energy profiles are constructed by connecting molecularly adsorbed and dissociatively adsorbed intermediates on each CeO(2) surface with tight transition states using the nudged elastic band (NEB) method. It is found that the U correction method plays a significant role in energetics, especially for the intermediates of the exit channels and products that are partially reduced. The surface reduction reaction on CeO(2)(110) is energetically much more favorable. Accordingly, oxygen vacancies are more easily formed on the (110) surface than on the (111) surface.     

甲烷部分氧化制合成气反应Pt/Al_2O_3和Pt/CeO2/Al_2O_3催化剂的研究(英文)

研究了Ｐｔ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３和Ｐｔ／ＣｅＯ２／Ａｌ２Ｏ３催化剂对甲烷部分氧化制合成气反应的催化活性，发现Ｐｔ／ＣｅＯ２／Ａｌ２Ｏ３显示了比Ｐｔ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３更高的甲烷转化率和合成气选择性。用Ｈ２ＴＰＲ，Ｈ２ＴＰＤ，ＳＥＭ和ＸＲＤ等手段和技术对催化剂进行了表征。ＣｅＯ２与Ｐｔ之间存在较强的相互作用（ＳＭＳＩ），这种作用促进了Ｐｔ在催化剂表面的分散，抑制了Ｐｔ在催化剂表面的迁移，大大降低了催化剂在反应中的完全燃烧活性，提高了催化剂的部分氧化活性和选择性，避免了因催化剂床层局部温度过高而导致催化剂活性下降或失活，提高了催化剂的稳定性。同时，在反应过程中，ＣｅＯ２通过促进水蒸气变换反应（ＷＧＳＲ）的进行使反应体系迅速达到平衡，提高了催化剂对Ｈ２的选择性。     

CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni催化剂在碱性溶液中对乙醇电催化氧化性能的增强

有机小分子直接燃料电池具有高能量密度和转换效率、易贮存及运输方便等优点.在过去几十年,有机小分子化合物尤其是乙醇的电催化氧化引起了研究者的关注,高活性和稳定性及低价格的电催化剂的设计和制备一直是乙醇燃料电池的研究热点.本文采用复合电沉积方法制备了Ni和CeO2复合镀层,然后利用Ni置换铂前驱体中Pt的方法制备了纳米CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂(Pt/Ni-CeO2).采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及能谱仪(EDS)等手段表征了所制样品的组成和相结构、表面形貌及组成成份.XRD结果表明,所制Pt/Ni催化剂主要是PtNi合金相结构.与Pt/Ni相比,Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂的XRD峰强明显变弱,表明纳米CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂的结晶性较差或者其晶体颗粒较小.这可能是由于CeO2的共沉积阻止了Ni纳米颗粒的进一步生长或团聚.当电镀液中CeO2含量为50和100 mg/L时,所制Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂样品Pt/NiCe1和Pt/NiCe2的XRD谱上未观察到CeO2相关的衍射峰,这主要可归因于催化剂中沉积的CeO2量少或其高度分散.随着电镀液中CeO2浓度进一步增大到200 mg/L时,在Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂(Pt/NiCe4)的XRD谱上出现了CeO2相关的衍射峰.这表明采用复合电沉积-化学还原法可以成功制备CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂.SEM结果显示,所制催化剂都是由团聚状态的纳米颗粒组成,并且Pt/NiCe2表现出比Pt/Ni更开放的微结构,从而有利于反应物扩散至催化剂内部.该结果进一步表明共沉积的CeO2对所制Pt/Ni催化剂微结构的影响.此外,EDS结果也证实成功制备了CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂.采用多次循环伏安、电流时间曲线和电化学阻抗谱(EIS)等手段研究了所制电催化剂的电化学性能.与Pt/Ni相比,Pt/Ni-CeO2催化剂表现出更好的电催化氧化乙醇活性和稳定性,这可能与CeO2的贮氧特性及其共沉积增大了电极的粗糙度有关.红外光谱测试结果表明,在CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂催化氧化乙醇过程中,CH3COO?可能是乙醇氧化的主要产物.在所制催化剂中,CeO2含量影响其电催化氧化乙醇性能.循环伏安和电流时间曲线测试结果表明,随着催化剂中CeO2含量增大,催化剂活性先增加后减弱.电化学阻抗谱结果表明,随着CeO2含量增大,CeO2修饰的Pt/Ni电催化剂的接触电阻先增大后变小再变大;而电荷转移电阻不断变小.在电解液中含有100 mg/L CeO2时所制电催化剂(Pt/NiCe2)具有最佳的电催化氧化乙醇活性和稳定性.这主要与CeO2的贮氧功能、Pt与CeO2/Ni间的相互作用和其较小的接触电阻和电荷转移电阻有关.该结果可为设计和制备低价格、高活性乙醇燃料电池中的催化剂提供思路.     

In situ time-resolved characterization of Au-CeO2 and AuOx-CeO2 catalysts during the water-gas shift reaction: presence of Au and O vacancies in the active phase

Synchrotron-based in situ time-resolved x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption spectroscopies were used to study the behavior of nanostructured {Au+AuO(x)}-CeO(2) catalysts under the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. At temperatures above 250 degrees C, a complete AuO(x)-->Au transformation was observed with high catalytic activity. Photoemission results for the oxidation and reduction of Au nanoparticles supported on rough ceria films or a CeO(2)(111) single crystal corroborate that cationic Au(delta+) species cannot be the key sites responsible for the WGS activity at high temperatures. The rate determining steps for the WGS seem to occur at the gold-ceria interface, with the active sites involving small gold clusters (<2 nm) and O vacancies.     

In situ studies of the active sites for the water gas shift reaction over Cu-CeO2 catalysts: complex interaction between metallic copper and oxygen vacancies of ceria

New information about the active sites for the water gas shift (WGS) reaction over Cu-CeO2 systems was obtained using in-situ, time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (TR-XAS, Cu K and Ce L3 edges), and infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Cu-CeO2 nanoparticles prepared by a novel reversed microemulsion method (doped Ce1-xCuxO2 sample) and an impregnation method (impregnated CuOx/CeO2 sample) were studied. The results from all of the samples indicate that both metallic copper and oxygen vacancies in ceria were involved in the generation of active sites for the WGS reaction. Evidence was found for a synergistic Cu-Ovacancy interaction. This interaction enhances the chemical activity of Cu, and the presence of Cu facilitates the formation of O vacancies in ceria under reaction conditions. Water dissociation occurred on the Ovacancy sites or the Cu-Ovacancy interface. No significant amounts of formate were formed on the catalysts during the WGS reaction. The presence of strongly bound carbonates is an important factor for the deactivation of the catalysts at high temperatures. This work identifies for the first time the active sites for the WGS reaction on Cu-CeO2 catalysts and illustrates the importance of in situ structural studies for heterogeneous catalytic reactions.     

Structural characterization of nanosized CeO(2)-SiO(2), CeO(2)-TiO(2), and CeO(2)-ZrO(2) catalysts by XRD, Raman, and HREM techniques

Structural characteristics of nanosized ceria-silica, ceria-titania, and ceria-zirconia mixed oxide catalysts have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area, thermogravimetry, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM). The effect of support oxides on the crystal modification of ceria cubic lattice was mainly focused. The investigated oxides were obtained by soft chemical routes with ultrahighly dilute solutions and were subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K. The XRD results suggest that the CeO(2)-SiO(2) sample primarily consists of nanocrystalline CeO(2) on the amorphous SiO(2) surface. Both crystalline CeO(2) and TiO(2) anatase phases were noted in the case of CeO(2)-TiO(2) sample. Formation of cubic Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2) and Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2) (at 1073 K) were observed in the case of the CeO(2)-ZrO(2) sample. Raman measurements disclose the fluorite structure of ceria and the presence of oxygen vacancies/Ce(3+). The HREM results reveal well-dispersed CeO(2) nanocrystals over the amorphous SiO(2) matrix in the cases of CeO(2)-SiO(2), isolated CeO(2), and TiO(2) (anatase) nanocrystals, some overlapping regions in the case of CeO(2)-TiO(2), and nanosized CeO(2) and Ce-Zr oxides in the case of CeO(2)-ZrO(2) sample. The exact structural features of these crystals as determined by digital diffraction analysis of HREM experimental images reveal that the CeO(2) is mainly in cubic fluorite geometry. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC) as determined by thermogravimetry reveals that the OSC of the mixed oxide systems is more than that of pure CeO(2) and is system dependent.