Surface-enhanced Raman scattering and density functional theory calculation of uracil on gold and silver nanoparticle surfaces

The adsorption structure of uracil on gold and silver nanoparticle surfaces has been comparatively studied by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Uracil appeared to assume a perpendicular orientation with respect to the surfaces. The presence of the nu(CH) band in the SERS spectra indicated a vertical orientation of the aromatic ring of uracil on Au and Ag. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation was performed at the levels of B3LYP and MP2 to estimate the energetic stability of the N3- and N1-deprotonated tautomers and their vibrational frequencies on the surfaces. Almost all the vibrational bands in the SERS spectra at high concentrations could be ascribed to the N3-deprotonated uracil. The N3-deprotonated tautomer was predicted to be more favorable on Au than on Ag from the DFT calculation. The metal-N bond distance was assumed to be shorter for Au than for Ag upon adsorption of uracil.     

On the theoretical understanding of the unexpected O2 activation by nanoporous gold

Several pure and Ag-doped gold surfaces were used as models of nanoporous gold catalysts where O(2) was suggested to be activated. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that residual Ag on Au is able to promote adsorption and to dissociate thermodynamically favorable O(2) with high rate constants.     

Density functional theory (DFT) and DRIFTS investigations of the formation and adsorption of enolic species on the Ag/Al2O3 surface

Molecular structure and vibrational frequencies of the novel surface enolic species intermediate on Ag/Al2O3 have been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and in situ infrared spectroscopy. The geometrical structures and vibrational frequencies were obtained at the B3P86 levels of DFT and compared with the corresponding experimental values. Theoretical calculations show that the calculated IR spectra are in good agreement with the experimental spectroscopic results. In addition, the adsorption energy of enolic species on the Ag/Al2O3 catalyst surface was also evaluated. The reaction mechanism from C2H5OH to enolic species on Ag/Al2O3 catalyst was proposed.     

Synthesis and characterization of norfloxacin-transition metal complexes (group 11, IB): spectroscopic, thermal, kinetic measurements and biological activity

The investigation of the new structures of Ag(I), Cu(II) and Au(III) complexes, [Ag(2)(Nor)(2)](NO(3))(2), [Cu(Nor)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]SO(4).5H(2)O and [Au(Nor)(2) (H(2)O)(2)]Cl(3) (where, Nor=norfloxacin) was done during the reaction of silver(I), copper(II) and gold(III) ions with norfloxacin drug ligand. Elemental analysis of CHN, infrared, electronic, (1)H NMR and mass spectra, as well as thermo gravimetric analysis (TG and DTG) and conductivity measurements have been used to characterize the isolated complexes. The powder XRD studies confirm the amorphous nature of the complexes. The norfloxacin ligand is coordinated to Ag(I) and Au(III) ions as a neutral monodentate chelating through the N atom of piperidyl ring, but the copper(II) complex is coordinated through the carbonyl oxygen atom (quinolone group) and the oxygen atom of the carboxylic group. The norfloxacin and their metal complexes have been biologically tested, which resulted in norfloxacin complexes showing moderate activity against the gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as against fungi.     

Density functional theory-based prediction of some aqueous-phase chemistry of superheavy element 111. Roentgenium(I) is the "softest" metal ion

A previous approach (Hancock, R. D.; Bartolotti, L. J. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 7175) using DFT calculations to predict log K1 (formation constant) values for complexes of NH3 in aqueous solution was used to examine the solution chemistry of Rg(I) (element 111), which is a congener of Cu(I), Ag(I), and Au(I) in Group 1B. Rg(I) has as its most stable presently known isotope a t(1/2) of 3.6 s, so that its solution chemistry is not easily accessible. LFER (Linear free energy relationships) were established between DeltaE(g) calculated by DFT for the formation of monoamine complexes from the aquo ions in the gas phase, and DeltaG(aq) for the formation of the corresponding complexes in aqueous solution. For M2+, M3+, and M4+ ions, the gas-phase reaction was [M(H2O)6]n+(g) + NH3(g) = [M(H2O)5NH3]n+(g) + H2O(g) (1), while for M+ ions, the reaction was [M(H2O)2]+(g) + NH3(g) = [M(H2O)NH3]+(g) + H2O(g) (2). A value for DeltaG(aq) and for DeltaE for the formation of M = Cu2+ in reaction 1, not obtained previously, was calculated by DFT and shown to correlate well with the LFER obtained previously for other M2+ ions, supporting the LFER approach used here. The simpler use of DeltaE values instead of DeltaG(aq) values calculated by DFT for formation of monoamine complexes in the gas phase leads to LFER as good as the DeltaG-based correlations. Values of DeltaE were calculated by DFT to construct LFER with M+ = H+, and the Group 1B metal ions Cu+, Ag+, Au+, and Rg+, and with L = NH3, H2S, and PH3 in reaction 3: [M(H2O)2]+(g) + L(g) = [M(H2O)L]+g) + H2O(g) (3). Correlations involving DeltaE calculated by DMol3 for H+, Cu+, Ag+, and Au+ could reliably be used to construct LFER and estimate unknown log K1 values for Rg(I) complexes of NH3, PH3, and H2S calculated using the ADF (Amsterdam Density Functional) code. Log K1 values for Rg(I) complexes are predicted that suggest the Rg(I) ion to be a very strong Lewis acid that is extremely "soft" in the Pearson hard and soft acids and bases sense.     

CO adsorption on pure and binary-alloy gold clusters: a quantum chemical study

We performed density-functional theory analysis of nondissociative CO adsorption on 22 binary Au-alloy (Au(n)M(m)) clusters: n=0-3, m=0-3, and m+n=2 (dimers) or 3 (trimers), M=Cu/Ag/Pd/Pt. We report basis-set superposition error corrections to adsorption energies and include both internal energy of adsorption (DeltaU(ads)) and Gibbs free energy of adsorption (DeltaG(ads)) at standard conditions (298.15 K and 1 atm). We found onefold (atop) CO binding on all the clusters except Pd2 (twofold/bridged), Pt2 (twofold/bridged), and Pd3 (threefold). In agreement with the experimental results, we found that CO adsorption is thermodynamically favorable on pure Au/Cu clusters but not on pure Ag clusters and also observed the following adsorption affinity trend: Pd>Pt>Au>Cu>Ag. For alloy dimers we found the following patterns: Au2>M Au>M2 (M=Ag/Cu) and M2>M Au>Au2 (M=Pd/Pt). Alloying Ag/Cu dimers with (more reactive) Au enhanced adsorption and the opposite effect was observed for PdPt dimers. The Ag-Au, Cu-Au, and Pd-Au trimers followed the trends observed on dimers: Au3>M Au2>M2Au>M3 (M=Ag/Cu) and Pd3>Pd2Au>PdAu2>Au3. Interestingly, Pt-Au trimers reacted differently and alloying with Au systematically increased the adsorption affinity: PtAu2>Pt2Au>Pt3>Au3. A strikingly different behavior of Pt is also manifested by the triplet spin state and onefold (atop) binding in Pt3-CO which is in contradiction with the singlet spin state and threefold binding in Pd3-CO. We found a linear correlation between CO binding energy (BE) and elongation of the CO bond. For Ag-Au and Cu-Au clusters, the increase in CO BE (and elongation of the C-O bond which is probably due to the back donation) is accompanied by the decrease in the cluster-CO distance suggesting that the donation (from 5sigma highest occupied molecular orbital in CO to cluster lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) mechanism also contributes to the BE. For Pd-Au clusters, the cluster-CO distance (and CO bond length) increases with increase in the BE, suggesting that the donation mechanism may not be important for those clusters. No clear trend was observed for Pt-Au clusters.     

NOx分子在[Ag]-AlMOR分子筛中的吸附

采用Dmol3程序中密度泛函理论(DFT)的广义梯度方法GGA/BLYP和DND基组研究了银离子交换的丝光沸石([Ag]-AlMOR)结构及其对NOx分子吸附性能的影响, 获得吸附复合物的平衡几何结构参数、吸附能以及红外振动频率等数据. 结果表明, NOx分子与丝光沸石间的主要作用力为NOx分子中的氮(或氧)原子上的孤对电子和Ag+间的静电作用力. 吸附能数据表明, NOx分子以η1-N模式吸附在[Ag]-AlMOR分子筛中的结构更稳定; 在η1-N模式中, NOx分子吸附作用强度的次序为NO>NO2>N2O. 红外振动频率结果表明, 吸附态NOx分子中N—O和N—N键伸缩振动频率的位移趋势与N—O和N—N 键变化规律基本相一致. 另外, 对[Ag]-AlMOR分子筛的抗硫、抗水及抗氧化性能也进行了研究和分析.     

V2O5-Sb2O3-TiO2催化剂 低温NH3还原NO及其抗H2O和SO2毒化性能

浸渍法制备了催化剂V₂O₅-Sb₂O₃-TiO₂,考察了V₂O₅、Sb₂O₃负载量、pH值和焙烧温度对催化剂V₂O₅- Sb₂O₃-TiO₂低温氨选择性催化还原(SCR)NO活性的影响;同时,考察了催化剂V₂O₅-Sb₂O₃-TiO₂抗H₂O和SO₂毒化性能。结果表明,V₂O₅和Sb₂O₃负载量分别为5%和2%、焙烧温度为400℃、pH值为4时,催化剂SCR活性最好,反应温度220℃时,可达97%。Sb₂O₃的加入不仅能增强V₂O₅/TiO₂的催化活性,而且能明显提高催化剂的抗H₂O和SO₂毒化性能。SO₂、NO吸附暂态反应和TG-DTG测试表明,Sb₂O₃的促进机制主要是促进了催化剂在SO₂存在条件下对NO的吸附,同时,减弱了硫酸铵盐与催化剂之间的相互作用,硫酸铵盐更容易分解。     

Density functional theory-based prediction of the formation constants of complexes of ammonia in aqueous solution: indications of the role of relativistic effects in the solution chemistry of gold(I)

A prediction of the formation constants (log K1) for complexes of metal ions with a single NH3 ligand in aqueous solution, using quantum mechanical calculations, is reported. DeltaG values at 298 K in the gas phase for eq 1 (DeltaG(DFT)) were calculated for 34 metal ions using density functional theory (DFT), with the expectation that these would correlate with the free energy of complex formation in aqueous solution (DeltaG(aq)). [M(H2O)6]n+(g) + NH(3)(g) = [M(H2O)5NH3]n+(g) + H2O(g) (eq 1). The DeltaG(aq) values include the effects of complex changes in solvation on complex formation, which are not included in eq 1. It was anticipated that such changes in solvation would be constant or vary systematically with changes in the log K(1) value for different metal ions; therefore, simple correlations between DeltaG(DFT) and DeltaG(aq) were sought. The bulk of the log K1(NH3) values used to calculate DeltaG(aq) were not experimental, but estimated previously (Hancock 1978, 1980) from a variety of empirical correlations. Separate linear correlations between DeltaG(DFT) and DeltaG(aq) for metal ions of different charges (M2+, M3+, and M4+) were found. In plots of DeltaG(DFT) versus DeltaG(aq), the slopes ranged from 2.201 for M2+ ions down to 1.076 for M4+ ions, with intercepts increasing from M2+ to M4+ ions. Two separate correlations occurred for the M3+ ions, which appeared to correspond to small metal ions with a coordination number (CN) of 6 and to large metal ions with a higher CN in the vicinity of 7-9. The good correlation coefficients (R) in the range of 0.97-0.99 for all these separate correlations suggest that the approach used here may be the basis for future predictions of aqueous phase chemistry that would otherwise be experimentally inaccessible. Thus, the log K1(NH3) value for the transuranic Lr3+, which has a half-life of 3.6 h in its most stable isotope, is predicted to be 1.46. These calculations should also lead to a greater insight into the factors governing complex formation in aqueous solution. All of the above DFT calculations involved corrections for scalar relativistic effects (RE). Au has been described (Koltsoyannis 1997) as a "relativistic element". The chief effect of RE for group 11 ions is to favor linear coordination geometry and greatly increase covalence in the M-L bond. The correlation for M+ ions (H+, Cu+, Ag+, Au+) involved the preferred linear coordination of the [M(H2O)2]+ complexes, so that the DFT calculations of DeltaG for the gas-phase reaction in eq 2 were carried out for M = H+, Cu+, Ag+, and Au+. [M(H2O)2]+(g) + NH3(g) = [M(H2O)NH3]+(g) + H2O(g) (eq 2). Additional DFT calculations for eq 2 were carried out omitting corrections for RE. These indicated, in the absence of RE, virtually no change in the log K1(NH3) value for H+, a small decrease for Cu+, and a larger decrease for Ag+. There would, however, be a very large decrease in the log K1(NH3) value for Au(I) from 9.8 (RE included) to 1.6 (RE omitted). These results suggest that much of "soft" acid behavior in aqueous solution in the hard and soft acid-base classification of Pearson may be the result of RE in the elements close to Au in the periodic table.     

含铜MFI分子筛的H2-TPT和O2-TPD研究

 采用H2－TPR和O2－TPD手段考察了不同金属离子交换的ZSM－5分子筛催化剂上的氢还原性能和氧脱附性能．发现Cu－ZSM－5催化剂的储氧能力及氧脱附性能优于Co－ZSM－5和Fe－ZSM－5催化剂;储氧能力强、低温下氧脱附性能好的催化剂,对NO分解反应的催化活性就高．铜离子是反应的活性中心．添加Ag和Ce可使Cu－ZSM－5催化剂上氧的脱附温度大大降低．Cu－ZSM－5／堇青石整体式催化剂上Cu的存在形式与单纯的Cu－ZSM－5有差异,整体式催化剂上的一价铜数量少,但较稳定．     

Nitric oxide adsorption and reduction reaction mechanism on the Rh7(+) cluster: a density functional theory study

The transition metal rhodium has been proved the effective catalyst to convert from NO(x) to N(2.) In the present work, we are mainly focused on the NO adsorption and decomposition reaction mechanism on the surface of the Rh(7)(+) cluster, and the calculated results suggest that the reaction can proceed via three steps. First, the NO can adsorb on the surface of the Rh(7)(+) cluster; second, the NO decomposes to N and O atoms; finally, the N atom reacts with the second adsorbed NO and reduces to a N(2) molecule. The N-O bond breaks to yield N and O atoms in the second step, which is the rate-limiting step of the whole catalytic cycle. This step goes over a relatively high barrier (TS(12)) of 39.6 kcal/mol and is strongly driven by a large exothermicity of 55.1 kcal/mol during the formation of stable compound 3, accompanied by the N and O atoms dispersed on the different Rh atoms of the Rh(7)(+) cluster. In addition, the last step is very complex due to the different possibilities of reaction mechanism. On the basis of the calculations, in contrast to the reaction path II that generates N(2) from two nitrogen atoms coupling, the reaction path I for the formation of intermediate N(2)O is found to be energetically more favorable. Present work would provide some valuable fundamental insights into the behavior of the nitric oxide adsorption and reduction reaction mechanism on the Rh(7)(+) cluster.     

Co—MgO催化剂上NO—程序升温表面反应和NO—CH4反应

ＮＯ，程序升温表面反应（ＴＰＳＲ），ＮＯ－ＣＨ４反应，Ｃｏ－ＭｇＯ     

Ring-opening polymerization of coordination complexes: silver(I) complexes with bis(amidopyridine) ligands derived from thiophene

The thiophene-based bis(N-methylamido-pyridine) ligand SC4H2-2,5-{C(=O)N(Me)-4-C5H4N}2 reacts with silver(I) salts AgX to give 1 : 1 complexes, which are characterized in the solid state as the macrocyclic complexes [Ag(2){SC4H2-2,5-(CONMe-4-C5H4N)2}2][X]2, which have the cis conformation of the C(=O)N(Me) group, when X = CF3CO2, NO3, or CF3SO3 but as the polymeric complex [Ag(n){SC4H2-2,5-(CONMe-4-C5H4N)2}n][X]n, with the unusual trans conformation of the C(=O)N(Me) group, when X = PF6. The bis(amido-pyridine) ligand SC4H2-2,5-{C(=O)NHCH2-3-C5H4N}2 reacts with silver(I) trifluoroacetate to give the polymeric complex [Ag(n){SC4H2-2,5-(CONHCH2-3-C5H4N)2}n][X]n, X = CF3CO2. The macrocyclic complexes contain transannular argentophilic secondary bonds. The polymers self assemble into sheet structures through interchain C=O...Ag and S...Ag bonds in [Ag(n){SC4H2-2,5-(CONMe-4-C5H4N)2}n][PF6]n and through Ag...Ag, C=O...Ag and Ag...O(trifluoroacetate)...HN secondary bonds in [Ag(n){SC4H2-2,5-(CONHCH2-3-C5H4N)2}n][CF3CO2]n.     

甲醇在FeS2(100)完整表面的吸附和分解

采用基于第一性原理的密度泛函理论结合周期平板模型方法, 研究了甲醇分子在FeS₂(100)完整表面的吸附与解离. 通过比较不同吸附位置的吸附能和构型参数发现: 表面Fe位为有利吸附位, 甲醇分子通过氧原子吸附在表面Fe位, 吸附后甲醇分子中的C―O键和O―H键都有伸长, 振动频率发生红移; 甲醇分子易于解离成甲氧基CH3O和H, 表面Fe位仍然是二者有利吸附位. 通过计算得出甲醇在FeS₂(100)表面解离吸附的可能机理: 甲醇分子首先发生O―H键的断裂, 生成甲氧基中间体, 继而甲氧基C―H键断裂, 得到最后产物HCHO和H₂.     

Conformational analysis and comparison between theoretical and experimental vibration spectra for isocyanate species on Ag/Al2O3 catalyst

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to study the structure and vibrational frequencies of the intermediate for the isocyanate (NCO) surface species on Ag/Al(2)O(3) catalyst using the GAUSSIAN 98 suite of programs. Thermal decomposition of adsorbed CH(3)NO(2) species leads to the formation of two types of NCO species (NCO on Ag and NCO on Al(2)O(3)) above 298K. In order to investigate the reaction mechanism, we have designed the calculated models (a-g) for the NCO intermediate. Through the analysis of the vibration mode and the vibration frequency of the calculated models (a-g), we conclude that there is an excellent agreement between the calculated vibration spectrum of the model (e) containing the -AgNCO group or model (g) containing the -AlNCO group and the experimental vibration spectrum.     

N,N'-双(苯甲酰丙酮)-1,4-丁二胺席夫碱银(I)配合物的合成及其晶体结构

以苯甲酰丙酮与1,4-丁二胺经缩合反应制得一个新的席夫碱配体——N,N'-双(苯甲酰丙酮)-1,4-丁二胺(L);L与硝酸银经配位反应合成了配合物[Ag_2(L)(NO_3)_2]_n(1),其结构经1H NMR,13C NMR,FT-IR,元素分析和X-射线单晶衍射表征。晶体结构解析表明:1(CCDC∶1 434 692)属单斜晶系,空间群P21/c,晶胞参数a=0.997 81(5)nm,b=0.778 36(4)nm,c=1.704 13(8)nm,β=106.637 0(10),V=1.261 85(11)nm3,Z=2,Dc=1.884 g·cm~(-3),R1=0.020 8,wR_2=0.054 4。1中每个银离子为扭曲四面体的配位构型,分别和相邻配体的γ-碳原子,氧原子及两个NO_3~-的氧原子配位;每个配体作为四齿配体,分别用两端的γ-碳原子,氧原子和四个银离子配位形成1D链结构,1D通过NO_3~-与银离子配位扩展形成3D网状结构。热稳定性研究结果表明:L和1的初始分解温度分别为300℃和200℃。     

贫燃条件 In-Ag/TiO2-γ-Al2O3催化 CO选择性还原NO

汽车尾气中主要污染成分 CO和 NOx可导致酸雨、光化学烟雾和臭氧空洞效应,对生物、环境及生态系统造成重大危害。污染源中 CO是性能优良的还原剂,如能不添加还原剂实现 CO催化还原 NOx,将成为最具经济技术优势的 NOx脱除技术。在富氧、低温条件下,利用 CO选择性催化还原 NOx为 N2,是目前选择性催化还原研究中的热点和难点。催化 CO还原 NOx常用的贵金属 Ir, Rh, Pt和Pd矿藏稀少,价格昂贵,有氧条件下活性急降,而分子筛催化剂和一些金属氧化物催化剂普遍存在反应温度高,尤其对 N2选择性差等问题。为解决上述问题,需寻找新的适合我国矿产资源的催化体系。研究发现,稀散金属基催化剂对氮氧化物的净化具有一定效果,因而可将我国的稀散金属资源优势转化为技术优势和经济优势。因此,本文以 TiO2-γ-Al2O3(TA)为载体, In/Ag为活性组分,采用等体积浸渍法制备了 InAg/TA以及 In/TA, Ag/TA和InAg/Al (γ-Al2O3为载体)催化剂,考察了贫燃条件下 CO选择性还原NO的催化活性。研究表明,双金属催化剂InAg/Al和 InAg/TA的活性比单金属催化剂In/TA和 Ag/TA高, In/TA催化剂中引入 Ag物种能降低起燃温度;另外,相比于InAg/Al催化剂, InAg/TA催化剂具有较高的催化活性,550?600°C时 N2产率超过60%,说明载体中引入TiO2可以提高催化剂活性。为了深入研究 InAg/TA催化剂中 Ag物种和TiO2对 In物种的作用,通过比表面测定、X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱、紫外-可见光吸收光谱、氢气程序升温还原、傅立叶变换红外线光谱等方法分析了催化剂结构和表面形态。结果表明, Ag物种可以提高 In物种的分散性, In和 Ag物种在 TA载体表面可以很好地分散,从而有利于提高催化活性。 In和 Ag物种在 TA载体表面以氧化态形式存在,并且 Ag物种可以提高 In物种表面含量,表面 In和 Ag物种含量越高,吸附活性位越多,催化活性越高;同时, TiO2也可以促进 NO吸附,从而提高 InAg/TA催化剂活性。 InAg/TA催化剂在450°C连续反应72 h进行稳定性测试,测试前后分别在50?600°C进行活性测试,并用 XRD和 TEM对反应后的催化剂进行表征测试。结果表明, InAg/TA催化剂具有较好的稳定性,连续反应前后催化剂活性基本保持不变,推测可能由于在有 CO和O2存在的体系中, Ag物种利用自身 Ag+与 Ag0之间的氧化还原反应抑制了活性组分 In2O3的还原和聚集,稳定了 In物种乃至催化剂活性。 InAg/TA催化剂用于贫燃条件下CO还原NO具有较好的催化效果,主要归因于催化剂活性组分分散性好,稳定性高,对NO吸附能力强。 Ag物种可以稳定In物种并提高其分散性, TiO2可以改善In物种和Ag物种的分散性并促进NO吸附。     

Adsorption of small Au(n) (n = 1-5) and Au-Pd clusters inside the TS-1 and S-1 pores

We used a hybrid quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics (QM/MM) approach to simulate the adsorption of Au(n)() (n = 1-5), AuPd, and Au(2)Pd(2) clusters inside the TS-1 and S-1 pores. We studied nondefect and metal-vacancy defect sites in TS-1 and S-1 for a total of four different environments around the T6 crystallographic site. We predict stronger binding of all clusters near Ti sites in Ti-substituted framework compared to adsorption near Si sites-consistent with the experimental finding of a direct correlation between the Ti-loading and the Au-loading on the Au/TS-1 catalysts with high Si/Ti ratio. The cluster binding is also stronger near lattice-metal vacancies compared to fully coordinated, nondefect sites. In all the cases, a trend of binding energy (BE) versus Au cluster size (n) shows a peak at around n = 3-4. Our results show that there is enough room for the attack of H(2)O(2) on the Ti-defect site even with Au(1-4) adsorbed-a result that supports the possibility of H(2)O(2) spillover from the Au clusters to the adjacent Ti-defect sites. Mulliken charge analysis indicates that in all the cases there is electron density transfer to adsorbed clusters from the zeolite lattice. In the case of both gas-phase and adsorbed Au-Pd clusters, all the Pd atoms were positively charged, and all the Au atoms were negatively charged due to the higher electron-affinity of Au. We also found a correlation between the BE and the charge transfer to the clusters (the higher the charge transfer to the clusters, the higher the BE), and a universal correlation was found for Au(2-5) when BE and charge transfer were plotted on a per atom basis. A relatively larger charge transfer to the adsorbed clusters was found for the Ti sites versus the Si sites, and for the defect sites versus the nondefect sites. The trends in the BE were corroborated using Gibbs free energy of adsorption (DeltaG(ads)), and the implications of DeltaG(ads) in sintering of Au clusters are also discussed. Our results confirm that electronic factors such as cluster-charging are potentially important support effects for the Au/TS-1 catalyst.     

Screening by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of Pt-Au(100) surfaces for the steady-state decomposition of nitric oxide in excess dioxygen

An ab initio-based kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm was developed to simulate the direct decomposition of NO over Pt and different PtAu alloy surfaces. The algorithm was used to test the influence of the composition and the specific atomic surface structure of the alloy on the simulated activity and selectivity to form N2. The apparent activation barrier found for the simulation of lean NO decomposition over Pt(100) was 7.4 kcal/mol, which is lower than the experimental value of 11 kcal/mol that was determined over supported Pt nanoparticles. Differences are likely due to differences in the surface structure between the ideal (100) surface and supported Pt particles. The apparent reaction orders for lean NO decomposition over the Pt(100) substrate were calculated to be 0.9 and -0.5 for NO and O2, respectively. Oxygen acts to poison Pt. Simulations on the different Pt-Au(100) surface alloys indicate that the turnover frequency goes through a maximum as the Au composition in the surface is increased, and the maximum occurs near 44% Au. Turnover frequencies, however, are dictated by the actual arrangements of Pt and Au atoms in the surface rather than by their overall composition. Surfaces with similar compositions but different alloy arrangements can lead to very different activities. Surfaces composed of 50% Pt and 50% Au (Pt4 and Au4 surface ensembles) showed very little enhancement in the activity over that which was found over pure Pt. The Pt-Pt bridge sites required for NO adsorption and decomposition were still effectively poisoned by atomic oxygen. The well-dispersed Pt(50%)Au(50%) alloy, on the other hand, increased the TOF over that found for pure Pt by a factor of 2. The most active surface alloy was one in which the Pt was arranged into "+" ensembles surrounded by Au atoms. The overall composition of this surface is Pt(56.2%)Au(43.8%). The unique "+" ensembles maintain Pt bridge sites for NO to adsorb on but limit O2 as well as NO activation by eliminating next-nearest neighbor Pt-bridge sites. The repulsive interactions between two adatoms prevent them from sharing the same metal atoms. The decrease in the oxygen coverage leads to a greater number of vacant sites available for NO adsorption. This increases the NO coupling reaction and hence N2 formation. The inhibition of the rate of N2 formation by O2 is therefore suppressed. The coverage of atomic oxygen decreases from 53% on the Pt(100) surface down to 19% on the "+" ensemble surface. This increases the rate of N2 formation by a factor of 4.3 over that on pure Pt. The reaction kinetics over the "+" ensemble Pt(56.2%)Au(43.8%) surface indicate apparent reaction orders in NO and oxygen of 0.7 and 0.0, respectively. This suggests that oxygen does not poison the PtAu "+" alloy ensemble. The activity and selectivity of the PtAu ensembles significantly decrease for alloys that go beyond 60% Au. Higher coverages of Au shut down sites for NO adsorption and, in addition, weaken the NO and O bond strengths, which subsequently promotes desorption as well as NO oxidation. The computational approach identified herein can be used to more rapidly test different metal compositions and their explicit atomic arrangements for improved catalytic performance. This can be done "in silico" and thus provides a method that may aid high-throughput experimental efforts in the design of new materials. The synthesis and stability of the metal complexes suggested herein still ultimately need to be tested.     

Adsorption and dissociation of NO on stepped Pt (533)

We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of the adsorption, desorption, and dissociation of NO on the stepped Pt (533) surface. By combining temperature programmed desorption and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy, information about the adsorption sites at different temperatures is obtained. Surprisingly, metastable adsorption structures of NO can be produced through variation of the dosing temperature. We also show that part of the NO molecules adsorbed on the step sites dissociates around 450 K. After dissociation the N atoms can desorb either by combining with an O fragment, or with another N atom, resulting in NO and N(2). The N(2) production can be enhanced by coadsorbing CO on the surface: CO scavenges the oxygen atom, thereby suppressing associative recombinative desorption of N and O atoms. Density functional theory calculations are used to reveal the adsorption energies and vibrational frequencies of adsorbed NO as well as barriers for dissociation of NO and for diffusion of N atoms. The combined experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that dissociation of NO is the rate limiting step in the formation of N(2).