Selective epoxidation of ethylene catalyzed by silver: mechanistic details revealed by single-crystal studies
The selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene epoxide over Ag is a simple prototype for the entire class of kinetically-controlled, selective oxidation reactions. The steady-state kinetics and selectivity of this reaction on clean, well-characterized single-crystal surfaces of silver has been studied by using a special apparatus which allows rapid (approx.20 s) transfer between a high-pressure catalytic microreactor and an ultrahigh vacuum surface analysis chamber. The results of some of our recent studies of this reaction are reviewed. These single-crystal studies have provided considerable new insight into: the reaction pathway through molecularly adsorbed O/sub 2/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 4/, the structural sensitivity of real silver catalysts, and the role of chlorine adatoms in promoting catalyst selectivity via an ensemble effect. 37 references, 5 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM
- OSTI ID:
- 6231778
- Journal Information:
- ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States), Journal Name: ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States) Vol. 288; ISSN ACSMC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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