Experimental and theoretical study of the reactions between small neutral iron oxide clusters and carbon monoxide

Reactions of small neutral iron oxide clusters (FeO(1-3) and Fe(2)O(4,5)) with carbon monoxide (CO) are investigated by experiments and first-principle calculations. The iron oxide clusters are generated by reaction of laser-ablation-generated iron plasma with O(2) in a supersonic expansion and are reacted with carbon monoxide in a fast flow reactor. Detection of the neutral clusters is through ionization with vacuum UV laser (118 nm) radiation and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The FeO(2) and FeO(3) neutral clusters are reactive toward CO, whereas Fe(2)O(4), Fe(2)O(5), and possibly FeO are not reactive. A higher reactivity for FeO(2) [sigma(FeO(2) + CO) > 3 x 10(-17) cm(2)] than for FeO(3) [sigma(FeO(3) + CO) approximately 1 x 10(-17) cm(2)] is observed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out to interpret the experimental observations and to generate the reaction mechanisms. The reaction pathways with negative or very small overall barriers are identified for CO oxidation by FeO(2) and FeO(3). The lower reactivity of FeO(3) with respect to FeO(2) may be related to a spin inversion process present in the reaction of FeO(3) with CO. Significant reaction barriers are calculated for the reactions of FeO and Fe(2)O(4-5) with CO. The DFT results are in good agreement with experimental observations. Molecular-level reaction mechanisms for CO oxidation by O(2), facilitated by condensed phase iron oxides as catalysts, are suggested.     

The reaction mechanism of iron and manganese superoxide dismutases studied by theoretical calculations

We have studied the detailed reaction mechanism of iron and manganese superoxide dismutase with density functional calculations on realistic active-site models, with large basis sets and including solvation, zero-point, and thermal effects. The results indicate that the conversion of O2- to O2 follows an associative mechanism, with O2- directly binding to the metal, followed by the protonation of the metal-bound hydroxide ion, and the dissociation of 3O2. All these reaction steps are exergonic. Likewise, we suggest that the conversion of O2- to H2O2 follows an at least a partly second-sphere pathway. There are small differences in the preferred oxidation and spin states, as well as in the geometries, of Fe and Mn, but these differences have little influence on the energetics, and therefore on the reaction mechanism of the two types of superoxide dismutases. For example, the two metals have very similar reduction potentials in the active-site models, although they differ by 0.7 V in water solution. The reaction mechanisms and spin states seem to have been designed to avoid spin conversions or to facilitate them by employing nearly degenerate spin states.     

Density functional theory study of small vanadium oxide clusters

Density functional theory is employed to study structure and stability of small neutral vanadium oxide clusters in the gas phase. BPW91/LANL2DZ level of theory is used to obtain structures of VOy (y=1-5), V2Oy (y=2-7), V3Oy (y=4-9), and V4Oy (y=7-12) clusters. Enthalpies of growth and fragmentation reactions of the lowest energy isomers of vanadium oxide molecules are also obtained to study the stability of neutral vanadium oxide species under oxygen saturated gas-phase conditions. Our results suggest that cyclic and cage-like structures are preferred for the lowest energy isomers of neutral vanadium oxide clusters, and oxygen-oxygen bonds are present for oxygen-rich clusters. Clusters with an odd number of vanadium atoms tend to have low spin ground states, while clusters with even number of vanadium atoms have a variety of spin multiplicities for their ground electronic state. VO2, V2O5, V3O7, and V4O10 are predicted to be the most stable neutral clusters under the oxygen saturated conditions. These results are in agreement with and complement previous gas-phase experimental studies of neutral vanadium oxide clusters.     

Theoretical and experimental consideration of the reactions between VxOy+ and ethylene

We present joint theoretical and experimental results which provide evidence for the selectivity of V(x)O(y)(+) clusters in reactions toward ethylene due to the charge and different oxidation states of vanadium for different cluster sizes. Density functional calculations were performed on the reactions between V(x)O(y)(+) and ethylene, allowing us to identify the structure-reactivity relationship and to corroborate the experimental results obtained by Castleman and co-workers (Zemski, K. A.; Justes, D. R.; Castleman, A. W., Jr. J. Phys. Chem. A 2001, 105, 10237). The lowest-energy structures for the V(2)O(2)(-)(6)(+) and V(4)O(8)(-)(10)(+) clusters and the V(2)O(3)(-)(6)(+)-C(2)H(4) and V(4)O(10)(+)-C(2)H(4) complexes, as well as the energetics for reactions between ethylene and V(2)O(4)(-)(6)(+) and V(4)O(10)(+) are presented here. The oxygen transfer reaction pathway was determined to be the most energetically favorable one available to V(2)O(5)(+) and V(4)O(10)(+) via a radical-cation mechanism.The association and replacement reaction pathways were found to be the optimal channels for V(2)O(4)(+) and V(2)O(6)(+), respectively. These results are in agreement with the experimental results reported previously. Experiments were also conducted for the reactions between V(2)O(5)(+) and ethylene to include an energetic analysis at increasing pressures. It was found that the addition of energy depleted the production of V(2)O(4)(+), confirming that a more involved reaction rather than a collisional process is responsible for the observed phenomenon. In this contribution we show that investigation of reactions involving gas-phase cationic vanadium oxide clusters with small hydrocarbons is suitable for the identification of reactive centers responsible for selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Nitrous oxide decomposition over Fe-ZSM-5 in the presence of nitric oxide: a comprehensive DFT study

A number of experimental studies have shown recently that ppm-level additions of nitric oxide (NO) enhance the rate of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) decomposition catalyzed by Fe-ZSM-5 at low temperatures. In the present work, the NO-assisted N(2)O decomposition over mononuclear iron sites in Fe-ZSM-5 was studied on a molecular level using density functional theory (DFT) and transition-state theory. A reaction network consisting of over 100 elementary reactions was considered. The structure and energies of potential-energy minima were determined for all stable species, as were the structures and energies of all transition states. Reactions involving changes in spin potential-energy surfaces were also taken into account. In the absence of NO and at temperatures below 690 K, most active single iron sites (Z(-)[FeO](+)) are poisoned by small concentrations of water in the gas phase; however, in the presence of NO, these poisoned sites are converted into a novel active iron center (Z(-)[FeOH](+)). These latter sites are capable of promoting the dissociation of N(2)O into a surface oxygen atom and gas-phase N(2). The surface oxygen atom is removed by reaction with NO or nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)). N(2)O dissociation is the rate-limiting step in the reaction mechanism. At higher temperatures, water desorbs from inactive iron sites and the reaction mechanism for N(2)O decomposition becomes independent of NO, reverting to the reaction mechanism previously reported by Heyden et al. [J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 1857].     

Symmetry-switching molecular Fe(O2)n(+) clusters

Experimental and theoretical studies based on mass spectrometry, collision-induced dissociation, and ab initio calculations are performed on the formation and stability of FeO(n)(+) clusters, as well as on their structural, electronic, and magnetic properties. In the mass spectra, clusters with an even number of oxygen atoms show increased stability, most prominently for FeO(10)(+). The extra stability of this cluster is confirmed by measurements of fragmentation cross sections through crossed molecular beam experiments. In addition, the calculations indicate a structural phase transition at this size, and most importantly, the FeO(n)(+) clusters show unique magnetic features, exhibiting isoenergetic low-spin (LS) and high-spin (HS) ground states. In the LS state, the magnetic moments of the O atoms adopt an antiferromagnetic alignment with respect to the magnetic moment of Fe(+), whereas in the HS state, the alignment is ferromagnetic. FeO(10)(+) is the largest thermodynamically stable complex, with the highest magnetic moment among the FeO(n)(+) clusters (13 μ(B) in HS).     

The dissociative adsorption of silane and disilane on Si(100)-(2 x 1)

We investigate the dissociative adsorption of silane and disilane on Si(100)-(2 x 1) using pseudopotential planewave density functional theory calculations. These are important steps in the growth of silicon films. Although silane has been studied computationally in some detail previously, we find physisorbed precursor states for the intradimer and interdimer channels. The silane energetics calculated here are in good agreement with experimental data and previous theoretical estimates and provide us with a useful reference point for our disilane calculations. Disilane has not been studied as intensively as silane. We investigate both silicon-silicon bond cleavage and silicon-hydrogen bond cleavage mechanisms, and for each we investigate intradimer, interdimer, and inter-row channels. As in the case of silane, we also find precursor states in the adsorption path in agreement with molecular beam experiments. The qualitative picture that emerges is that adsorption takes place through a weakly bound precursor state with a transition state to chemisorption that is low lying in energy relative to the gas phase. This is in good agreement with experimental data. However, the calculated energetics are only in fair agreement with experiments, with our transition state to chemisorption being about 0.02 eV above the gas phase while experimentally it is estimated to be approximately 0.28 eV below the gas phase. This suggests that accurate theoretical characterization of these weakly bound precursor states and the adsorption barriers requires further computational work.     

Interaction of vanadium oxide cluster anions with water: an experimental and theoretical study on reactivity and mechanism

Vanadium oxide cluster anions (V(x)O(y)(-), x = 2-3; y = 3-7) are produced by laser ablation and reacted with water in a fast flow reactor. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used to detect the cluster distribution before and after the reactions. Reaction channels of molecular hydrogen elimination (for V(2,3)O(3)(-)), water association (for V(2)O(5)(-) and V(3)O(6,7)(-)) and the coexistence of both channels (for V(2)O(4)(-) and V(3)O(4,5)(-)) are observed. V(2)O(6)(-) and V(3)O(8)(-) are nearly inert toward water. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to study the reaction mechanism of V(2)O(3)(-) in different spin states with water and the results support the experimental observation. The reaction mechanism of V(2)O(3)(+) with water is also studied, which is in agreement with the experimental report in previous literature [Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2008, 4961] that molecular hydrogen elimination is a minor reaction channel for V(2)O(3)(+) + H(2)O. The influence of cluster charge states and oxidation states of vanadium atoms on the cluster reactivity are presented based on the experimental and theoretical studies.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of reactions of neutral vanadium and tantalum oxide clusters with NO and NH3

Reactions of neutral vanadium and tantalum oxide clusters with NO, NH(3), and an NO/NH(3) mixture in a fast flow reactor are investigated by time of flight mass spectrometry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Single photon ionization through a 46.9 nm (26.5 eV) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) laser is employed to detect both neutral cluster distributions and reaction products. Association products VO(3)NO and V(2)O(5)NO are detected for V(m)O(n) clusters reacting with pure NO, and reaction products, TaO(3,4)(NO)(1,2), Ta(2)O(5)NO, Ta(2)O(6)(NO)(1-3), and Ta(3)O(8)(NO)(1,2) are generated for Ta(m)O(n) clusters reacting with NO. In both instances, oxygen-rich clusters are the active metal oxide species for the reaction M(m)O(n)+NO→M(m)O(n)(NO)(x). Both V(m)O(n) and Ta(m)O(n) cluster systems are very active with NH(3). The main products of the reactions with NH(3) result from the adsorption of one or two NH(3) molecules on the respective clusters. A gas mixture of NO:NH(3) (9:1) is also added into the fast flow reactor: the V(m)O(n) cluster system forms stable, observable clusters with only NH(3) and no V(m)O(n)(NO)(x)(NH(3))(y) species are detected; the Ta(m)O(n) cluster system forms stable, observable mixed clusters, Ta(m)O(n)(NO)(x)(NH(3))(y), as well as Ta(m)O(n)(NO)(x) and Ta(m)O(n)(NH(3))(y) individual clusters, under similar conditions. The mechanisms for the reactions of neutral V(m)O(n) and Ta(m)O(n) clusters with NO/NH(3) are explored via DFT calculations. Ta(m)O(n) clusters form stable complexes based on the coadsorption of NO and NH(3). V(m)O(n) clusters form weakly bound complexes following the reaction pathway toward end products N(2)+H(2)O without barrier. The calculations give an interpretation of the experimental data that is consistent with the condensed phase reactivity of V(m)O(n) catalyst and suggest the formation of intermediates in the catalytic chemistry.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of neutral MgmCnHx and BemCnHx clusters

Neutral Mg(m)C(n)H(x) and Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are investigated both experimentally and theoretically for the first time. Single photon ionization at 193 nm is used to detect neutral cluster distributions through time of flight mass spectrometry. Mg(m)C(n)H(x) and Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are generated through laser ablation of Mg or Be foil into CH(4)/He expansion gas. A number of members of each cluster series are identified through isotopic substitution experiments employing (13)CH(4) and CD(4) instead of CH(4) in the expansion gas. An oscillation of the vertical ionization energies (VIEs) of Mg(m)C(n)H(x) clusters is observed in the experiments. The VIEs of Mg(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are observed to vary as a function of the number of H atoms in the clusters. Density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio (MP2) calculations are carried out to explore the structures and ionization energies of Mg(m)C(n)H(x) clusters. Many Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are also generated and detected in the experiments. The structures and VIEs of Be(m)C(n)H(x) clusters are also studied by theoretical calculations. Calculational results provide a good and consistent explanation for the experimental observations, and are in general agreement with them for both series of clusters.     

Combined experimental and theoretical study on aromatic hydroxylation by mononuclear nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complexes

The hydroxylation of aromatic compounds by mononuclear nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complexes, [FeIV(Bn-tpen)(O)]2+ (Bn-tpen=N-benzyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) and [FeIV(N4Py)(O)]2+ (N4Py=N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine), has been investigated by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. In the experimental work, we have performed kinetic studies of the oxidation of anthracene with nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complexes generated in situ, thereby determining kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, a Hammett rho value, and a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) value. A large negative Hammett rho value of -3.9 and an inverse KIE value of 0.9 indicate that the iron-oxo group attacks the aromatic ring via an electrophilic pathway. By carrying out isotope labeling experiments, the oxygen in oxygenated products was found to derive from the nonheme iron(IV)-oxo species. In the theoretical work, we have conducted density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the hydroxylation of benzene by [FeIV(N4Py)(O)]2+. The calculations show that the reaction proceeds via two-state reactivity patterns on competing triplet and quintet spin states via an initial rate determining electrophilic substitution step. In analogy to heme iron(IV)-oxo catalysts, the ligand is noninnocent and actively participates in the reaction mechanism by reshuttling a proton from the ipso position to the oxo group. Calculated kinetic isotope effects of C6H6 versus C6D6 confirm an inverse isotope effect for the electrophilic substitution pathway. Based on the experimental and theoretical results, we have concluded that the aromatic ring oxidation by mononuclear nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complexes does not occur via a hydrogen atom abstraction mechanism but involves an initial electrophilic attack on the pi-system of the aromatic ring to produce a tetrahedral radical or cationic sigma-complex.     

Structure and stability of (TiO2)n, (SiO2)n, and mixed Ti(m)Si(n-m)O(2n) [n = 2-5, m = 1 to (n - 1)] clusters

Structures, energetics, and vibrational spectra are investigated for small pure (TiO(2))(n), (SiO(2))(n), and mixed Ti(m)Si(n-m)O(2n) [n = 2-5, m = 1 to (n - 1)] oxide clusters by density functional theory (DFT). The BP86/ATZP level of theory is employed to obtain constitutional isomers of the oxide clusters. In accordance with previous studies, our calculations show three-dimensional compact structures are preferred for pure (TiO(2))(n) with oxo-stabilized higher hexavalent states, and linear chain structures are favored for pure (SiO(2))(n) with tetravalent states. However, the herein theoretically first reported mixed Ti(m)Si(n-m)O(2n) oxide clusters prefer either three-dimensional compact or linear chain structures depending upon the stoichiometry of the compound. Vibrational analysis of the important modes of some highly stable structures is provided. Coupled-cluster single and double excitation (with triples) [CCSD(T)] computed energy gaps for the TiO(2) dimers compare well with results from previous study. Excitation energies are computed by use of time-dependent (TD) DFT and equation-of-motion coupled-cluster calculations with singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) for the most stable isomers.     

A first-principles investigation of the effect of Pt cluster size on CO and NO oxidation intermediates and energetics

As catalysis research strives toward designing structurally and functionally well-defined catalytic centers containing as few active metal atoms as possible, the importance of understanding the reactivity of small metal clusters, and in particular of systematic comparisons of reaction types and cluster sizes, has grown concomitantly. Here we report density functional theory calculations (GGA-PW91) that probe the relationship between particle size, intermediate structures, and energetics of CO and NO oxidation by molecular and atomic oxygen on Pt(x) clusters (x = 1-5 and 10). The preferred structures, charge distributions, vibrational spectra, and energetics are systematically examined for oxygen (O(2), 2O, and O), CO, CO(2), NO, and NO(2), for CO/NO co-adsorbed with O(2), 2O, and O, and for CO(2)/NO(2) co-adsorbed with O. The binding energies of oxygen, CO, NO, and of the oxidation products CO(2) and NO(2) are all markedly enhanced on Pt(x) compared to Pt(111), and they trend toward the Pt(111) levels as cluster size increases. Because of the strong interaction of both the reactants and products with the Pt(x) clusters, deep energy sinks develop on the potential energy surfaces of the respective oxidation processes, indicating worse reaction energetics than on Pt(111). Thus the smallest Pt clusters are less effective for catalyzing CO and NO oxidation in their original state than bulk Pt. Our results further suggests that oxidation by molecular O(2) is thermodynamically more favourable than by atomic O on Pt(x). Conditions and applications in which the Pt(x) clusters may be effective catalysts are discussed.     

Influence of stoichiometry and charge state on the structure and reactivity of cobalt oxide clusters with CO

Cationic and anionic cobalt oxide clusters, generated by laser vaporization, were studied using guided-ion-beam mass spectrometry to obtain insight into their structure and reactivity with carbon monoxide. Anionic clusters having the stoichiometries Co2O3(-), Co2O5(-), Co3O5(-) and Co3O6(-) were found to exhibit dominant products corresponding to the transfer of a single oxygen atom to CO, indicating the formation of CO 2. Cationic clusters, in contrast, displayed products resulting from the adsorption of CO onto the cluster accompanied by the loss of either molecular O 2 or cobalt oxide units. In addition, collision induced dissociation experiments were conducted with N 2 and inert xenon gas for the anionic clusters, and xenon gas for the cationic clusters. It was found that cationic clusters fragment preferentially through the loss of molecular O 2 whereas anionic clusters tend to lose both atomic oxygen and cobalt oxide units. To further analyze how stoichiometry and ionic charge state influence the structure of cobalt oxide clusters and their reactivity with CO, first principles theoretical electronic structure studies within the density functional theory framework were performed. The calculations show that the enhanced reactivity of specific anionic cobalt oxides with CO is due to their relatively low atomic oxygen dissociation energy which makes the oxidation of CO energetically favorable. For cationic cobalt oxide clusters, in contrast, the oxygen dissociation energies are calculated to be even lower than for the anionic species. However, in the cationic clusters, oxygen is calculated to bind preferentially in a less activated molecular O 2 form. Furthermore, the CO adsorption energy is calculated to be larger for cationic clusters than for anionic species. Therefore, the experimentally observed displacement of weakly bound O 2 units through the exothermic adsorption of CO onto positively charged cobalt oxides is energetically favorable. Our joint experimental and theoretical findings indicate that positively charged sites in bulk-phase cobalt oxides may serve to bind CO to the catalyst surface and specific negatively charged sites provide the activated oxygen which leads to the formation of CO 2. These results provide molecular level insight into how size, stoichiometry, and ionic charge state influence the oxidation of CO in the presence of cobalt oxides, an important reaction for environmental pollution abatement.     

Collision-induced dissociation and density functional theory studies of CO adsorption over zirconium oxide cluster ions: oxidative and nonoxidative adsorption

Zirconium oxide cluster cations and anions are produced by laser ablation and reacted with CO in a fast flow reactor. The CO adsorption products Zr(x)O(y)CO(+) are observed for most of the generated cationic clusters (Zr(x)O(y)(+) = Zr(2)O(5,6)(+), Zr(3)O(7,8)(+), Zr(4)O(9,10)(+)...) while only specific anionic systems (Zr(x)O(y)(-) = Zr(3)O(7)(-), Zr(4)O(9)(-)...) absorb CO to produce Zr(x)O(y)CO(-). To study how the CO molecule is adsorbed on the clusters, the Zr(x)O(y)CO(±) products are mass-selected by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) and collided with a crossed helium beam. The fragment ions from collision-induced dissociation (CID) are detected by a secondary TOF-MS. Loss of CO and CO(2) is observed upon the collision of the helium beam with Zr(x)O(y)CO(+) and Zr(x)O(2x+1)CO(-), respectively. Density functional theory calculations indicate that oxidative and nonoxidative adsorption of CO takes place over Zr(3)O(7)(-) and Zr(3)O(7)(+), respectively. This is consistent with the CID experiments.     

Structural isomers and reactivity for Rh6 and Rh6+

The structure, energetics, and interconversion of isomers of Rh(6) and Rh(6)(+) are studied by using density functional theory with Gaussian basis sets, using guess structures derived from basin-hopping simulations, and obtained by using the Sutton-Chen potential. A large range of spin multiplicities is considered for each isomer. Our calculations suggest two low-lying structures as possible structural isomers: a square bipyramid and a trigonal prism. The reactivity of these two candidate structural isomers with respect to adsorption of nitric oxide is studied via location of reaction transition states and calculation of reaction barriers. Similarities and differences with surface reaction studies are highlighted. These data provide powerful evidence that structural isomerism, and not different spin states, is responsible for the observed biexponential reaction kinetics.     

Reaction of bare VO+ and FeO+ with ammonia: a theoretical point of view

The potential energy surfaces corresponding to the dehydration reaction of NH(3) by VO(+) ((3)Sigma, (1)Delta, (5)Sigma) and FeO(+) ((6)Sigma, (4)Delta) metal oxide cations have been investigated within the framework of the density functional theory in its B3LYP formulation and by employing new optimized basis sets for iron and vanadium. The reaction is proposed to occur through two hydrogen shifts from the nitrogen to the oxygen atom giving rise to multicentered transition states. Possible spin crossing between surfaces at different spin multiplicities has been considered. The energy profiles are compared with the corresponding ones for the insertion of bare cations to investigate the influence on reactivity of the presence of the oxygen ligand. The topological analysis of the gradient field of the electron localization function has been used to characterize the nature of the bonds for all the minima and transition states along the paths.     

A kinetic study of the reactions FeO+ + O, Fe+.N2 + O, Fe+.O2 + O and FeO+ + CO: implications for sporadic E layers in the upper atmosphere

These gas-phase reactions were studied by pulsed laser ablation of an iron target to produce Fe(+) in a fast flow tube, with detection of the ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Fe(+).N(2) and Fe(+).O(2) were produced by injecting N(2) and O(2), respectively, into the flow tube. FeO(+) was produced from Fe(+) by addition of N(2)O, or by ligand-switching from Fe(+).N(2) following the addition of atomic O. The following rate coefficients were measured: k(FeO(+) + O --> Fe(+) + O(2), 186-294 K) = (3.2 +/- 1.5) x 10(-11); k(Fe(+).N(2) + O --> FeO(+)+ N(2), 294 K) = (4.6 +/- 2.5) x 10(-10); k(Fe(+).O(2) + O --> FeO(+) + O(2), 294 K) = (6.3 +/- 2.7) x 10(-11); and k(FeO(+) + CO --> Fe(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (1.59 +/- 0.34) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where the quoted uncertainties are a combination of the 1sigma standard errors in the kinetic data and the systematic experimental errors. The surprisingly slow reaction between FeO(+) and O is examined using ab initio quantum calculations of the relevant potential energy surfaces. The importance of this reaction for controlling the lifetime of sporadic E layers is then demonstrated using a model of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere.     

Quantum mechanical investigations of the N(4S)+O2(X 3Sigmag -)-->NO(X 2Pi)+O(3P) reaction

The reaction between energetic nitrogen atoms and oxygen molecules has received important attention in connection with nitric oxide chemistry in the lower thermosphere. We report time-independent quantum mechanical calculations of the N(4S)+O2-->NO+O reaction employing the X 2A' and a 4A' electronic potential energy surfaces of Sayos et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 117, 670 (2002)]. We confirm the production of highly vibrationally excited NO molecules, consistent with previous semiclassical and more recent time-dependent quantum wave packet studies. Calculations are carried out for total angular momentum quantum number J=0 and cross sections and rate coefficients are extracted using the J-shifting approximation. The results are in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data.     

Reactions of carbon monoxide with free palladium oxide clusters: strongly size dependent competition between adsorption and combustion

The gas phase reactions of carbon monoxide with small mass-selected clusters of palladium, Pd(x)(+) (x = 2-7), and their oxides, Pd(x)O(+) (x = 2-7) and Pd(x)O(2)(+) (x = 4-6), have been investigated in a radio frequency ion trap operated under multi-collision conditions. The bare palladium clusters were found to readily adsorb CO yielding a highly size dependent product pattern. Most interestingly, the reactions of the pre-oxidized palladium clusters with CO lead to very similar product distributions of Pd(x)(CO)(z)(+) complexes as in the case of the corresponding pure Pd(x)(+) clusters. Consequently, it has been concluded that the investigated palladium oxide clusters efficiently oxidize CO under formation of the bare clusters, which further adsorb CO molecules yielding the previously observed Pd(x)(CO)(z)(+) product complex distributions. This CO combustion reaction has been observed even at temperatures as low as 100 K. However, for Pd(2)O(+), Pd(6)O(+), Pd(6)O(2)(+), and Pd(7)O(+) a competing reaction channel yielding palladium oxide carbonyls Pd(x)O(CO)(z)(+) could be detected. The latter adsorption reaction may even hamper the CO combustion under certain reaction conditions and indicates enhanced activation barriers involved in the CO oxidation and/or the CO(2) elimination process on these clusters.