Oxidation of CO Catalyzed by a Cu Cluster: Influence of an Electric Field |
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| Authors: | Wei Liu Yonghao Zhao Dr. Renqin Zhang Ying Li Dr. Enrique J. Lavernia Prof. Qing Jiang Prof. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, Ministry of Education and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022 (China), Fax: (+86)?431‐85095876;2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (USA), Fax: (+1)?530‐752‐8058 |
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| Abstract: | Adsorption ability and reaction rate are two essential parameters that define the efficiency of a catalyst. Herein, we implement density functional theory (DFT) and report that CO can be oxidized by a pyramidal Cu cluster with an associated reaction barrier Eb=1.317 eV. In this case, our transition state calculations reveal that the barrier can be significantly lowered after superimposing a negative electric field. Moreover, when the field intensity corresponds to F=?0.010 au, the magnitude of Eb=0.698 eV is equivalent to—or lower than—those of typical catalysts such as Pt, Rh, and Pd. The superimposition of a positive field is found to enhance the release of the nascent CO2 molecule. Our study demonstrates that small Cu clusters have better adsorption ability than the corresponding flat surface while the field can be used to enhance the purification of the exhaust gas. |
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| Keywords: | adsorption catalytic oxidation density functional calculations external electric field nanoclusters |
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