CeO2 and CuOx Interactions and the Controlled Assembly of CeO2(111) and CeO2(100) Nanoparticles on an Oxidized Cu(111)Substrate

Journal Article · Thu Nov 24 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of Physical Chemistry C

OSTI ID:1041606

A, Rodriguez J; Yang, F; Choi, Y M; Agnoli, S; Liu, P; Stacchiola, D; Hrbek, J

The catalytic performance of ceria-based heterogeneous catalysts in many chemical transformations (water-gas shift reaction, CO oxidation, alcohol synthesis from CO/CO{sub 2} hydrogenation, etc.) is affected by the surface structure of the ceria. To control the performance of ceria-containing inverse catalysts, we devised a method to grow ceria nanoparticles (NPs) exposing exclusively either (111) or (100) surfaces and characterized their surface structures by scanning tunneling microscopy. When cerium is vapor-deposited on Cu(111) in a background of molecular O{sub 2}, only CeO{sub 2}(111) NPs grow. However, if the surface of Cu(111) is preoxidized with O{sub 2} or NO{sub 2} to form a rectangular copper oxide phase, probably Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3}(001), CeO{sub 2}(100) NPs grow on the oxide template instead. These experimental findings are interpreted using results of density functional calculations. The (100) surface of bulk ceria reconstructs to preserve charge neutrality. This is not necessary for CeO{sub 2}(100) NPs grown on Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3}(001), where the topmost oxygen layer of Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3} is shared with the interfacial layer of cerium. After the CeO{sub 2}(100)/CuO{sub x}/Cu(111) surfaces were exposed to CO, the copper oxide was reduced but the shape of the CeO{sub 2}(100) NPs remained intact. This opens the door for diverse applications in catalysis.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1041606
• Report Number(s): BNL--96290-2012-JA; KC0302010
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry C Journal Issue: 46 Vol. 115; ISSN 1932-7447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALCOHOLS
CATALYSIS
CATALYSTS
CERIUM
COPPER OXIDES
DOORS
FUNCTIONALS
HYDROGENATION
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN
PERFORMANCE
SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY
SHAPE
SYNTHESIS
TRANSFORMATIONS
WATER GAS
national synchrotron light source