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.     

Interface diffusion and chemical reaction of PZT layer/Si (111) sample during the annealing treatment in air

The interface diffusion and chemical reaction between a PZT (PbZrxTi1-xO3) layer and a Si(111) substrate during the annealing treatment in air have been studied by using XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy). The results indicate that the Ti element in the PZT precursor reacted with residual carbon and silicon, diffused from the Si substrate, to form TiCx, TiSix species in the PZT layer during the thermal treatment. A great interface diffusion and chemical reaction took place on the interface of PZT Si also. The silicon atoms diffused from silicon substrate onto the surface of PZT layer. The oxygen atoms, which came from air, diffused into silicon substrate also and reacted with Si atoms to form a SiO2 interlayer between the PZT layer and the Si (111) substrate. The thickness of SiO2 interlayer was proportional to the square root of treatment time. The formation of the SiO2 interlayer was governed by the diffusion of oxygen in the PZT layer at low annealing tempera     

A new type of strong metal-support interaction and the production of H2 through the transformation of water on Pt/CeO2(111) and Pt/CeO(x)/TiO2(110) catalysts

The electronic properties of Pt nanoparticles deposited on CeO(2)(111) and CeO(x)/TiO(2)(110) model catalysts have been examined using valence photoemission experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The valence photoemission and DFT results point to a new type of "strong metal-support interaction" that produces large electronic perturbations for small Pt particles in contact with ceria and significantly enhances the ability of the admetal to dissociate the O-H bonds in water. When going from Pt(111) to Pt(8)/CeO(2)(111), the dissociation of water becomes a very exothermic process. The ceria-supported Pt(8) appears as a fluxional system that can change geometry and charge distribution to accommodate adsorbates better. In comparison with other water-gas shift (WGS) catalysts [Cu(111), Pt(111), Cu/CeO(2)(111), and Au/CeO(2)(111)], the Pt/CeO(2)(111) surface has the unique property that the admetal is able to dissociate water in an efficient way. Furthermore, for the codeposition of Pt and CeO(x) nanoparticles on TiO(2)(110), we have found a transfer of O from the ceria to Pt that opens new paths for the WGS process and makes the mixed-metal oxide an extremely active catalyst for the production of hydrogen.     

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.     

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.     

Oxidising CO to CO2 using ceria nanoparticles

We calculate, using simulated amorphisation and recrystallisation (A&R), that ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles, about 8 nm in diameter, comprise a high concentration of labile surface oxygen species, which we suggest will help promote the oxidation of CO to CO2. In particular, the ceria nanoparticle contains a high proportion of reactive {100} surfaces, surface steps and corner sites. When reduced to CeO1.95, the associated Ce3+ species and oxygen vacancies decorate step, corner and {100} sites in addition to plateau positions on {111}. The energetics of CO oxidation to CO2, catalysed by a ceria nanoparticle, is calculated to be lower compared with CO oxidation associated with the lowest energy surface (i.e. CeO2(111)) of the corresponding 'bulk' material. Our calculated morphologies for the ceria nanoparticles are in accord with experiment.     

Atomic and electronic structure of unreduced and reduced CeO2 surfaces: a first-principles study

The atomic and electronic structure of (111), (110), and (100) surfaces of ceria (CeO2) were studied using density-functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. Both stoichiometric surfaces and surfaces with oxygen vacancies (unreduced and reduced surfaces, respectively) have been examined. It is found that the (111) surface is the most stable among the considered surfaces, followed by (110) and (100) surfaces, in agreement with experimental observations and previous theoretical results. Different features of relaxation are found for the three surfaces. While the (111) surface undergoes very small relaxation, considerably larger relaxations are found for the (110) and (100) surfaces. The formation of an oxygen vacancy is closely related to the surface structure and occurs more easily for the (110) surface than for (111). The preferred vacancy location is in the surface layer for CeO2(110) and in the subsurface layer (the second O-atomic layer) for CeO2(111). For both surfaces, the O vacancy forms more readily than in the bulk. An interesting oscillatory behavior is found for the vacancy formation energy in the upper three layers of CeO2(111). Analysis of the reduced surfaces suggests that the additional charge resulting from the formation of the oxygen vacancies is localized in the first three layers of the surface. Furthermore, they are not only trapped in the 4f states of cerium.     

CO在CeO2(111)表面的吸附与氧化

采用密度泛函理论计算了CO在CeO2(111)表面的吸附与氧化反应行为. 结果表明, O2在洁净的CeO2(111)表面为弱物理吸附, 而在氧空位表面是强化学吸附, 且O2分子活化程度较大, O—O键长为0.143 nm. CO在CeO2(111)表面吸附行为的研究表明, CO在洁净表面及氧空位表面上为物理吸附, 吸附能均小于0.42 eV; 当表面氧空位吸附O2后, CO可吸附生成二齿碳酸盐中间体或直接生成CO2, 与原位红外光谱结果相一致. 表面碳酸盐物种脱附生成CO2的能垒仅为0.28 eV. 计算结果表明, 当CeO2表面存在氧空位时, Hubbard参数U对CO吸附能有一定的影响. CeO2载体在氧化反应中可能的催化作用为, 在氧气氛下, CeO2表面氧空位吸附O2分子, 形成活性氧物种, 参与CO催化氧化反应.     

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.     

Textural, structural, and morphological characterizations and catalytic activity of nanosized CeO(2)-MO(x) (M=Mg(2+), Al(3+), Si(4+)) mixed oxides for CO oxidation

The present work focuses on the combination of ceria with another oxide of different ionic valences from period 3 (Mg(2+), Al(3+), and Si(4+)) using coprecipitation method, followed by calcination at 450 and 750°C, respectively. The textural, structural, morphological and redox properties of nanosized ceria-magnesia, ceria-alumina and ceria-silica mixed oxides have been investigated by means of N(2) physisorption, XRD, Raman, HRTEM, DRS, FT-IR, and H(2)-TPR technologies. XRD results of these mixed oxides reveal that only nanocrystalline ceria (ca. 3-6nm for the 450°C calcined samples) could be observed. The grain size of ceria increases with the increasing calcination temperature from 450 to 750°C due to sintering effect. The highest specific surface area is obtained at CeO(2)-Al(2)O(3) mixed oxides when calcination temperature reaches 750°C. Raman spectra display the cubic fluorite structure of ceria and the existence of oxygen vacancies, and displacement of oxygen ions from their normal lattice positions in the ceria-based mixed oxides. DRS measurements confirm that the smaller the grain size of the ceria, the higher indirect band gap energy. H(2)-TPR results suggest that the reductions of surface and bulk oxygen of ceria were predominant at low and high calcination temperature, respectively. Finally, CO oxidation were performed over these ceria-based mixed oxides, and the combination of CeO(2)-Al(2)O(3) exhibited highest activity irrespective of calcination temperature, which may due to excellent textural/structural properties, good homogeneity, and redox abilities.     

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.     

Investigation of the Ti/MgCl2 interface on a Si(111) 7 × 7 substrate

Photoelectron spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation, low energy electron diffraction, and ion-scattering spectroscopy were used in order to study the Ti/MgCl(2) interface grown on an atomically clean Si(111) 7 × 7 substrate. A series of high resolution spectra after deposition of a thick MgCl(2) layer, step by step deposition of Ti and gradual annealing, indicated a very reactive interface even at room temperature. Strong interaction between the incoming Ti atoms and the MgCl(2) layer, leads to the formation of Ti(2+) and Ti(4+) oxidation states. The interfacial interaction continues even at multilayer Ti coverage mainly by the partial disruption of Mg-Cl bonds and the formation of Ti-Cl sites, rendering this interface a very promising UHV-compatible model of a pre-catalyst for olefin polymerization. After the final annealing, the MgCl(2) multilayers desorb while Ti remains on the surface forming a silicide layer on which Cl and Mg atoms are attached.     

Effects of Pt diffusion barrier layer on the interface reaction and electric properties of PZT film/Si (111) sample

The effects of the Pt diffusion barrier layer on the interface diffusion and reaction, crystallization, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the PZT/Si(111) sample have been studied using XPS, AES and XRD techniques. Hie results indicate that the Pt diffusion barrier layer between the PZT layer and the Si substrate prohibits the formation of TiCx TiSix and SiO2 species in the PZT layer. The Pt barrier layer also completely interrupts the diffusion of Si from the Si substrate into the PZT layer and impedes the diffusion of oxygen from air to the Si substrate greatly. Although the Pt layer can not prevent completely the diffusion and reaction between oxygen and silicon, it can prevent the formation of a stable SiO2 interface layer on the interface of PZT/Si. The Pt layer reacts with silicon to form PtSix species on the interface of Pt/Si, which can intensify the chemical binding strength between the Pt layer and the Si substrate. To play a good role as a diffusion barrier layer, the Pt barrier layer     

Growth of a Pt film on non-reduced ceria: a density functional theory study

The growth of platinum on non-reduced CeO(2) (111) surface is studied by means of calculations based on the density functional theory. Particles of increasing size are formed on the oxide surface by incorporating the platinum atoms one by one until multilayer films are obtained. The main conclusion is that platinum atoms tend to maximize the number of metallic bonds and to approach the situation of the bulk, hence preferring films to particles, particles to isolated atoms, and a three-dimensional growth to a two-dimensional one. The supported particles and the films exhibit a contraction of the Pt-Pt distances, with respect to those of the Pt bulk, in order to match the ceria lattice. The density of states projected on the film surface platinum atoms shows important differences in shape and energy (lower d-band center) compared to the Pt(111) reference surface, which could be the major reason for the observed changes in catalytic reactivity when deposited particles are compared with single crystal surfaces.     

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.     

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.     

Nucleation,morphology, and structure of sub-nm thin ceria islands on Rh(111)

The early stages of ceria growth on Rh(111) at high temperature have been investigated by low-energy electron microscopy and photoemission electron microscopy. Ceria was deposited by reactive Ce deposition at substrate temperatures between 700°C and 900°C in an oxygen ambient of 5 × 10⁻⁷ Torr. At 700°C, we observe a high nucleation density of 100-nm-sized islands. With elevated temperature, the average island size increases, and the nucleation density decreases. Triangularly shaped islands nucleate preferentially at step edges, with seemingly abrupt interfaces between Ce and Rh. At 900°C, the island edges are still straight, but during growth the islands lose their triangular form. Instead, growth along the substrate step edges becomes favorable, leading to a maze-like morphology. Atomic force microscopy reveals islands of 0.3 to 0.6-nm height, consistent with ceria islands formed by one or two trilayers (O―Ce―O) of ceria. Moreover, the second layer of the islands is also triangularly shaped, with lateral dimensions of 50 nm and similar step heights. IV-LEEM analysis leads to the conclusion that the rhodium surface is covered by a layer of reduced cerium oxide, which is partially overgrown by smaller islands of CeO₂.     

Effect of Addition of Base on Ceria and Reactivity of CuO/CeO2 Catalysts for Low-Temperature CO Oxidation

In this work, we have reported the influence of the addition of base (KOH) on the physicochemical property of ceria synthesized by alcohothermal process, and the alcohothermal mechanism was also put forward. Furthermore, the prepared CeO2 was used as the support to prepare CuO/CeO2 catalysts via the wet impregnation method. The samples were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and temperature-programmed reduction by H2 (H2-TPR). The catalytic properties of the CuO/CeO2 catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation were studied using a microreactor-GC system. The crystal size of CeO2-A was much smaller than that of CeO2-B, and the corresponding copper oxide catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activity than that of the CeO2-B-supported catalysts under the same reaction conditions. The alcohothermal mechanism indicated that KOH plays a key role in determining the physicochemical and catalytic properties of ceria-based materials.