When gold is not noble: Nanoscale gold catalysts

Journal Article · Thu Dec 02 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, amp General Theory

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jp9935992· OSTI ID:20013055

Sanchez, A; Abbet, S; Heiz, U; Schneider, W D; Haekkinen, H; Barnett, R N; Landman, U

While inert as bulk material, nanoscale gold particles dispersed on oxide supports exhibit a remarkable catalytic activity. Temperature-programmed reaction studies of the catalyzed combustion of CO on size-selected small monodispersed Au{sub n} (n {le} 20) gold clusters supported on magnesia, and first-principle simulations, reveal the microscopic origins of the observed unusual catalytic activity, with Au{sub 8} found to be the smallest catalytically active size. Partial electron transfer from the surface to the gold cluster and oxygen-vacancy F-center defects are shown to play an essential role in the activation of nanosize gold clusters as catalysts for the combustion reaction.

• Research Organization: Univ. de Lausanne (CH)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy; Swiss National Science Foundation
• OSTI ID: 20013055
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, amp General Theory, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, amp General Theory Journal Issue: 48 Vol. 103; ISSN 1089-5639; ISSN JPCAFH
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CARBON MONOXIDE
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
COMBUSTION
GOLD
MAGNESIUM OXIDES