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Title: Assessing the concept of structure sensitivity or insensitivity for sub-nanometer catalyst materials

Journal Article · · Surface Science
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [3];  [1]
  1. Technische University, Munich (Germany)
  2. Technische University, Munich (Germany); Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Eglin Air Force Base, FL (United States)
  3. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)

In this report the nature of the nano-catalyzed hydrogenation of ethylene, yielding benchmark information pertaining to the concept of structure sensitivity/insensitivity and its applicability at the bottom of the catalyst particle size-range, is explored with experiments on size-selected Ptn (n = 7–40) clusters soft-landed on MgO, in conjunction with first-principles simulations. As in the case of larger particles both the direct ethylene hydrogenation channel and the parallel hydrogenation–dehydrogenation ethylidyne-producing route must be considered, with the fundamental uncovering that at the < 1 nm size-scale the reaction exhibits characteristics consistent with structure sensitivity, in contrast to the structure insensitivity found for larger particles. In this size-regime, the chemical properties can be modulated and tuned by a single atom, reflected by the onset of low temperature hydrogenation at T > 150 K catalyzed by Ptn (n ≥ 10) clusters, with maximum room temperature reactivity observed for Pt13 using a pulsed molecular beam technique. Structure insensitive behavior, inherent for specific cluster sizes at ambient temperatures, can be induced in the more active sizes, e.g. Pt13, by a temperature increase, up to 400 K, which opens dehydrogenation channels leading to ethylidyne formation. This reaction channel was, however found to be attenuated on Pt20, as catalyst activity remained elevated after the 400 K step. Pt30 displayed behavior which can be understood from extrapolating bulk properties to this size range; in particular the calculated d-band center. In the non-scalable sub-nanometer size regime, however, precise control of particle size may be used for atom-by-atom tuning and manipulation of catalyzed hydrogenation activity and selectivity.

Research Organization:
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); European Research Council (ERC); German Research Foundation (DFG); Air Force Office for Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG05-86ER45234; 246645-ASC3; He3454/23-1; FA9550-15-1-0519
OSTI ID:
1534354
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1397343
Journal Information:
Surface Science, Vol. 652, Issue C; ISSN 0039-6028
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 31 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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