Exchange between sub-surface and surface oxygen vacancies on CeO2(111): a new surface diffusion mechanism

Using first principles calculations for O vacancy diffusion on CeO(2)(111), we locate a surface diffusion mechanism, the two-step O vacancy exchange one, which is more favored than the most common hopping mechanism. By analyzing the results, we identify quantitatively the physical origin of why the two-step exchange mechanism is preferred.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of ammonia decomposition activity on Fe-Pt, Co-Pt, and Cu-Pt bimetallic surfaces

We investigate the decomposition of ammonia on bimetallic surfaces prepared by the deposition of a monolayer of Fe, Co, or Cu on a Pt(111) surface computationally and experimentally. We explore the correlation between predicted activities based on the nitrogen binding energies with experimental decomposition activity on these bimetallic and corresponding monometallic surfaces. Through density functional theory calculations and microkinetic modeling, it is predicted that the Fe-Pt-Pt(111) and Co-Pt-Pt(111) surfaces, with a monolayer of Fe or Co on top of Pt(111), are active toward decomposing ammonia. In contrast, the corresponding subsurface configurations, Pt-Fe-Pt(111) and Pt-Co-Pt(111) are inactive. These predictions were confirmed experimentally through temperature programmed desorption experiments. Decomposition was seen at temperatures below 350 K for the Fe-Pt-Pt(111) and Co-Pt-Pt(111) surfaces. For the Cu∕Pt(111) system, the surface, subsurface and parent metals were each predicted to be inactive, consistent with experiments, further validating the model predictions. The stability of these bimetallic surfaces in the presence of adsorbed nitrogen is also discussed.     

Effect of surface orientation on the segregation kinetics of Sb from a Cu single crystal

In a previous theoretical study it has been suggested that the bulk vacancy formation energy near a surface depends on the orientation of the surface. It has been suggested also that this dependency of the vacancy formation energy would influence the bulk diffusion coefficient near the surface. The experimental results presented in this paper support this hypothesis. The experimental results were obtained by measuring the bulk‐to‐surface segregation of Sb for a Cu(111) single crystal with 0.088 at.% Sb and for a Cu(110) single crystal with 0.082 at.% Sb. The experimental results were fitted with the vacancy‐modified Darken model and it was clear that the bulk diffusion coefficient beneath the (110) surface is higher than the bulk diffusion coefficient beneath the (111) surface. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Au/Pd(111)双金属表面催化噻吩加氢脱硫的反应机理

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)计算了Pd(111)表面含有N(N=1-4)个Au原子数目时的表面形成能,选取最优构型进一步研究了噻吩在Au/Pd(111)双金属表面的吸附模式及加氢脱硫反应过程.结果表明:当Pd(111)表面含有1个Au原子时,其形成能最低.在Au/Pd(111)双金属表面噻吩初始吸附于Pd-Hcp-30°位时,其构型最稳定.在各加氢脱硫过程中,反应总体均放出热量.对于直接脱硫机理,其所需活化能较低,但脱硫产物较难控制;对于间接脱硫机理,反应最有可能按照顺式加氢方式进行,C―S键断裂开环时所需活化能最高,是反应的限速步骤.此外,与单一Au(111)面及Pd(111)面相比,Au/Pd(111)双金属表面限速步骤的反应能垒最低,表明AuPd双金属催化剂比Au、Pd单金属催化剂更有利于噻吩加氢脱硫反应的进行.     

Au/Pd(111)双金属表面催化噻吩加氢脱硫的反应机理

采用密度泛函理论（DFT）计算了Pd（111）表面含有N（N=1-4）个Au原子数目时的表面形成能,选取最优构型进一步研究了噻吩在Au/Pd（111）双金属表面的吸附模式及加氢脱硫反应过程. 结果表明：当Pd（111）表面含有1个Au原子时,其形成能最低. 在Au/Pd（111）双金属表面噻吩初始吸附于Pd-Hcp-30°位时,其构型最稳定. 在各加氢脱硫过程中,反应总体均放出热量. 对于直接脱硫机理,其所需活化能较低,但脱硫产物较难控制;对于间接脱硫机理,反应最有可能按照顺式加氢方式进行,C―S键断裂开环时所需活化能最高,是反应的限速步骤. 此外,与单一Au（111）面及Pd（111）面相比,Au/Pd（111）双金属表面限速步骤的反应能垒最低,表明AuPd双金属催化剂比Au、Pd单金属催化剂更有利于噻吩加氢脱硫反应的进行.     

Selective hydrogenation of the C=O bond in acrolein through the architecture of bimetallic surface structures

In the current study we have performed experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) modeling to investigate the selective hydrogenation of the C=O bond in acrolein on two bimetallic surface structures, the subsurface Pt-Ni-Pt(111) and surface Ni-Pt-Pt(111). We have observed for the first time the production of the desirable unsaturated alcohol (2-propenol) on Pt-Ni-Pt(111) under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Furthermore, our DFT modeling revealed a general trend in the binding energy and bonding configuration of acrolein with the surface d-band center of Pt-Ni-Pt(111), Ni-Pt-Pt(111), and Pt(111), suggesting the possibility of using the value of the surface d-band center as a parameter to predict other bimetallic surfaces for the selective hydrogenation of acrolein.     

氢原子在Pt及Pt系双金属催化表面吸附的密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函理论(dFT)考察了Pt(100)、(110)、(111)三种表面氢原子的吸附行为, 计算了覆盖度为0.25 ML时氢原子在Pt 三种表面和M-Pt(111)双金属(M=Al, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pd)上的最稳定吸附位、表面能以及吸附前后金属表面原子层间弛豫情况. 分析了氢原子在不同双金属表面吸附前后的局域态密度变化以及双金属表面d 带中心偏离费米能级的程度并与氢吸附能进行了关联. 计算结果表明, 在Pt(100), Pt(110)和Pt(111)表面, 氢原子的稳定吸附位分别为桥位、短桥位和fcc 穴位. 三种表面中以Pt(111)的表面能最低, 结构最稳定. 氢原子在不同M-Pt(111)双金属表面上的最稳定吸附位均为fcc 穴位, 其中在Ni-Pt 双金属表面的吸附能最低, Co-Pt 次之. 表明氢原子在Ni-Pt 和Co-Pt 双金属表面的吸附最稳定. 通过对氢原子在M-Pt(111)双金属表面吸附前后的局域态密度变化的分析, 验证了氢原子吸附能计算结果的准确性. 掺杂金属Ni、Co、Fe 的3d-Pt(111)双金属表面在吸附氢原子后发生弛豫, 第一层和第二层金属原子均不同程度地向外膨胀. 此外, 3d金属的掺入使得其对应的M-Pt(111)双金属表面d带中心与Pt 相比更靠近费米能级, 吸附氢原子能力增强, 表明3d-Pt系双金属表面有可能比Pt具有更好的脱氢活性.     

Theoretical study of CO and NO chemisorption on RhCu(111) surfaces

A systematic density functional theory study using periodic models is presented concerning the chemisorption of CO and NO on various sites of RhCu(111) surfaces. The properties of the adsorbed molecules on various mono- and bimetallic sites of these alloy surfaces have been obtained and compared to those corresponding to the pure Rh(111) and Cu(111) surfaces. It is shown that that the interaction of small probe molecules such as CO or NO on RhCu alloys is essentially dominated by the atomic nature of the surface active site with little influence of the rest of the metallic system. Moreover, it is suggested that it is possible to control the adsorption site of these molecules by appropriate choice of the surface composition.     

Immobilizing ultrafine bimetallic PtAg alloy onto uniform MnO_2 microsphere as a highly active catalyst for CO oxidation

Herein, a facile glycol reduction route is successful employed to synthesize bimetallic Pt Ag alloys with homogeneous distribution of sizes and elements. Experimental studies reveal that the ultrafine Pt Ag alloys with well-defined sizes from around 3.3 nm to 5.8 nm are immobilized onto MnO_2 microsphere,which remarkably enhances the catalytic performances for CO oxidation. Importantly, quasi in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) result reveals that both Mn and Pt ions on the surface of catalysts would realize alternating reduction-oxidation by CO and O_2 molecules, and the oxygen vacancy sites could be replenished and excited by gas-phase O_2.     

Adsorption and Decarbonylation Reaction of Furfural on the Pd(111) and M/Pd(111)(M=Ni,Cu and Ru) Surfaces

By performing with density functional theory(DFT) method, the detailed adsorption process and the catalytic decarbonylation mechanisms of furfural over Pd(111) and M/Pd(111)(M = Ni, Cu, Ru) surfaces toward furan were clarified. The results of atomic size factor, formation energy and d-band center showed that Ru/Pd(111) surface was the most stable and active. The adsorption energies of furfural on the different surfaces followed the order Ru/Pd(111) Cu/Pd(111) Pd(111) Ni/Pd(111). After analyzing Mulliken atomic charge population and the deformation density, we can find that on Ru/Pd(111) surface, the number of charge transfer was the most and the interaction was the strongest. Therefore, its adsorption energy was the highest. Furthermore, the furfural decarbonylation pathway is more kinetically feasible on bimetallic surface, and the reaction is the most likely to occur on Ru/Pd(111).     

Experimental and theoretical study of reactivity trends for methanol on Co/Pt(111) and Ni/Pt(111) bimetallic surfaces

Methanol was used as a probe molecule to examine the reforming activity of oxygenates on NiPt(111) and CoPt(111) bimetallic surfaces, utilizing density functional theory (DFT) modeling, temperature-programmed desorption, and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). DFT results revealed a correlation between the methanol and methoxy binding energies and the surface d-band center of various NiPt(111) and CoPt(111) bimetallic surfaces. Consistent with DFT predictions, increased production of H2 and CO from methanol was observed on a Ni surface monolayer on Pt(111), designated as Ni-Pt-Pt(111), as compared to the subsurface monolayer Pt-Ni-Pt(111) surface. HREELS was used to verify the presence and subsequent decomposition of methoxy intermediates on NiPt(111) and CoPt(111) bimetallic surfaces. On Ni-Pt-Pt(111) the methoxy species decomposed to a formaldehyde intermediate below 300 K; this species reacted at approximately 300 K to form CO and H2. On Co-Pt-Pt(111), methoxy was stable up to approximately 350 K and decomposed to form CO and H2. Overall, trends in methanol reactivity on NiPt(111) bimetallic surfaces were similar to those previously determined for ethanol and ethylene glycol.     

DFT-based Machine Learning for Ensemble Effect of Pd@Au Electrocatalysts on CO2 Reduction Reaction

The ensemble effect due to variation of Pd content in Pd−Au alloys have been widely investigated for several important reactions, including CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), however, identifying the stable Pd arrangements on the alloyed surface and picking out the active sites are still challenging. Here we use a density functional theory (DFT) based machine-learning (ML) approach to efficiently find the low-energy configurations of Pd−Au(111) surface alloys and the potentially active sites for CO₂RR, fully covering the Pd content from 0 to 100 %. The ML model is actively learning process to improve the predicting accuracy for the configuration formation energy and to find the stable Pd−Au(111) alloyed surfaces, respectively. The local surface properties of adsorption sites are classified into two classes by the K-means clustering approach, which are closely related to the Pd content on Au surface. The classification is reflected in the variation of adsorption energy of CO and H: In the low Pd content range (0–60 %) the adsorption energies over the surface alloys can be tuned significantly, and in the medium Pd content (37-68 %), the catalytic activity of surface alloys for CO₂RR can be increased by increase the Pd content and attributed to the meta-stable active site over the surface. Thus, the active site-dependent reaction mechanism is elucidated based on the ensemble effect, which provides new physical insights to understand the surface-related properties of catalysts.     

Fabrication of a High‐Quality,Porous, Surface‐Confined Covalent Organic Framework on a Reactive Metal Surface

A major goal of heterogeneous catalysis is to optimize catalytic selectivity. Selectivity is often limited by the fact that most heterogeneous catalysts possess sites with a range of reactivities, resulting in the formation of unwanted by‐products. The construction of surface‐confined covalent organic frameworks (sCOFs) on catalytically active surfaces is a desirable strategy, as pores can be tailored to operate as catalytic nanoreactors. Direct modification of reactive surfaces is impractical, because the strong molecule–surface interaction precludes monomer diffusion and formation of extended architectures. Herein, we describe a protocol for the formation of a high‐quality sCOF on a Pd‐rich surface by first fabricating a porous sCOF through Ullmann coupling on a Au‐rich bimetallic surface on Pd(111). Once the sCOF has formed, thermal processing induces a Pd‐rich surface while preserving the integrity of the sCOF architecture, as evidenced by scanning tunneling microscopy and titration of Pd sites through CO adsorption.     

Ag on Pt(111): Changes in Electronic and CO Adsorption Properties upon PtAg/Pt(111) Monolayer Surface Alloy Formation

The electronic and chemical (adsorption) properties of bimetallic Ag/Pt(111) surfaces and their modification upon surface alloy formation, that is, during intermixing of Ag and Pt atoms in the top atomic layer upon annealing, were studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and, using CO as probe molecule, by temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), respectively. The surface alloys are prepared by deposition of sub‐monolayer Ag amounts on a Pt(111) surface at room temperature, leading to extended Ag monolayer islands on the substrate, and subsequent annealing of these surfaces. Surface alloy formation starts at ≈600–650 K, which is evidenced by core‐level shifts (CLSs) of the Ag(3d_5/2) signal. A distinct change of the CO adsorption properties is observed when going to the intermixed PtAg surface alloys. Most prominently, we find the growth of a new desorption feature at higher temperature (≈550 K) in the TPD spectra upon surface alloy formation. This goes along with a shift of the CO_ad‐related IR bands to lower wave number. Surface alloy formation is almost completed after heating to 700 K.     

Adsorption and dissociation of O2 on Pt-Co and Pt-Fe alloys

Self-consistent periodic density functional theory calculations (GGA-PW91) have been performed to study the adsorption of O and O(2) and the dissociation of O(2) on the (111) facets of ordered Pt(3)Co and Pt(3)Fe alloys and on monolayer Pt skins covering these two alloys. Results are compared with those obtained on two Pt(111) surfaces, one at the equilibrium lattice constant and the other laterally compressed by 2% to match the strain in the Pt alloys. The absolute magnitudes of the binding energies of O and O(2) follow the same order in the two alloy systems: Pt skin < compressed Pt(111) < Pt(111) < Pt(3)Co(111) or Pt(3)Fe(111). The reduced activity of the compressed Pt(111) and Pt skins for oxygen can be rationalized as being due to the shifting of the d-band center increasingly away from the Fermi level. We propose that an alleviation of poisoning by O and enhanced rates for reactions involving O may be some of the reasons why Pt skins are more active for the oxygen reduction reaction in low-temperature fuel cells. Finally, a linear correlation between the transition-state and final-state energies of O(2) dissociation on monometallic and bimetallic surfaces is revealed, pointing to a simple way to screen for improved cathode catalysts.     

Bridging the pressure gap in model systems for heterogeneous catalysis with high-pressure scanning tunneling microscopy

A high-pressure scanning tunneling microscope (HP-STM) enabling imaging with atomic resolution over the entire pressure range from ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) to one bar has been developed. By means of this HP-STM we have studied the adsorption of hydrogen on Cu(110), CO on Pt(110) and Pt(111), and NO on Pd(111) at high pressures. For all of these adsorption systems we find that the adsorption structures formed at high pressures are identical to high-coverage structures formed at lower pressures and temperatures. We thus conclude that for these systems the so-called pressure gap can be bridged, i.e. the results obtained under conventional surface science conditions can be extrapolated to higher pressures. Finally, we use the HP-STM to image the CO-induced phase separation of a Au/Ni(111) surface alloy in real time, whereby demonstrating the importance of catalyst stability in the study of bimetallic systems.     

单原子分散的Au/Cu(111)表面合金的表面结构与吸附性质

Au-Cu双金属合金纳米颗粒对包括CO氧化和CO2还原等在内的多个反应有较好的催化活性,然而关于其表面性质的研究却相当匮乏。在此工作中,我们通过对低覆盖度的Au/Cu(111)和Cu/Au(111)双金属薄膜退火,制备出了单原子级分散的Au/Cu(111)和Cu/Au(111)合金化表面,并利用高分辨扫描隧道显微镜(STM)和扫描隧道谱(STS)进一步研究了掺杂原子的电子性质及其对CO吸附行为的影响。研究发现,分散在Cu(111)表面的表层和次表层Au单原子在STM上表现出不同衬度。在-0.5 e V附近,前者表现出相较于Cu(111)明显增强的电子态密度,而后者则明显减弱。吸附实验表明表层Au单原子对CO的吸附能力并没有得到增强,甚至会减弱其周围Cu原子的吸附能力。与Au在Cu(111)表面较好的分散相反,Cu原子倾向于钻入Au(111)的次表层,并且形成多原子聚集体。且Cu原子受Au(111)衬底吸电子作用的影响,其对CO的吸附能力明显减弱。这个研究结果揭示了合金表面的微观结构与性质的关联,为进一步阐明Au-Cu双金属催化剂的表面反应机理提供参考。     

Tuning the metal-adsorbate chemical bond through the ligand effect on platinum subsurface alloys

Scratching beneath the surface: Pt-M(3d)-Pt(111) (M(3d) = Co, Ni) bimetallic subsurface alloys have been designed to show the ligand effect tunes reactivity in oxygen and hydrogen adsorption systems. The platinum-oxygen bond order was investigated by oxygen atom projection in the occupied and unoccupied space using X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS).     

Reforming of oxygenates for H2 production: correlating reactivity of ethylene glycol and ethanol on Pt(111) and Ni/Pt(111) with surface d-band center

The dehydrogenation and decarbonylation of ethylene glycol and ethanol were studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) on Pt(111) and Ni/Pt(111) bimetallic surfaces, as probe reactions for the reforming of oxygenates for the production of H2 for fuel cells. Ethylene glycol reacted via dehydrogenation to form CO and H2, corresponding to the desired reforming reaction, and via total decomposition to produce C(ad), O(ad), and H2. Ethanol reacted by three reaction pathways, dehydrogenation, decarbonylation, and total decomposition, producing CO, H2, CH4, C(ad), and O(ad). Surfaces prepared by deposition of a monolayer of Ni on Pt(111) at 300 K, designated Ni-Pt-Pt(111), displayed increased reforming activity compared to Pt(111), subsurface monolayer Pt-Ni-Pt(111), and thick Ni/Pt(111). Reforming activity was correlated with the d-band center of the surfaces and displayed a linear trend for both ethylene glycol and ethanol, with activity increasing as the surface d-band center moved closer to the Fermi level. This trend was opposite to that previously observed for hydrogenation reactions, where increased activity occurred on subsurface monolayers as the d-band center shifted away from the Fermi level. Extrapolation of the correlation between activity and the surface d-band center of bimetallic systems may provide useful predictions for the selection and rational design of bimetallic catalysts for the reforming of oxygenates.