Catalytic activity of small MgO-supported Au clusters towards CO oxidation : A density functional study

• In order to explain the experimentally found catalytic characteristics of Au1-4 /MgO (100) we have performed a comprehensive density functional study of these systems and their ability to (co)adsorb CO and O2 molecules. Starting from the carefully determined ground-state structures we have analyzed binding mechanisms, the influence of spin-orbit coupling, and charge redistributions in Au1-4 /MgO+CO (O2). Experimentally Au1,2 /MgO were found to be inactive under a mixed atmosphere. We show that O2 strongly binds to Au1 /MgO that prevents coadsorption. Although a catalytic reaction cycle towards CO oxidation, analogous to the gas phase reaction involving Au 2-, is energetically possible for Au2 /MgO, the cluster will get blocked by a strongly bound CO. On the other hand, the catalytic activity of Au3,4 /MgO could be explained by their ability to coadsorb CO and O2, hence indicating the occurrence of a Langmuir- Hinshelwood-type reaction mechanism for these clusters.

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NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

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Physics

Fysik

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