Integrated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT characterization of benzene adsorption on Pt(111), Pt(355) and Pt(322) surfaces.

We systematically investigate the adsorption of benzene on Pt(111), Pt(355) and Pt(322) surfaces by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and first-principle calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), including van der Waals corrections. By comparing the adsorption energies at 1/9, 1/16 and 1/25 ML on Pt(111), we find significant lateral interactions exist between the benzene molecules at 1/9 ML. The adsorption behavior on Pt(355) and Pt(322) is very different. While on Pt(355) a step species is clearly identified in the C 1s spectra at low coverages followed by occupation of a terrace species at high coverages, no evidence for a step species is found on Pt(322). These different adsorption sites are confirmed by extensive DFT calculations, where the most favorable adsorption configurations on Pt(355) and Pt(322) are also found to vary: a highly distorted across the step molecule is found on Pt(355) while a less distorted configuration adjacent to the step molecule is deduced for Pt(322). The theoretically proposed C 1s core level binding energy shifts between these most favorable configurations and the terrace species are found to correlate well with experiment: for Pt(355), two adsorbate states are found, separated by ~0.4 eV in XPS and 0.3 eV in the calculations, in contrast to only one state on Pt(322).

Kinetics of the sulfur oxidation on palladium: a combined in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density-functional study.

We studied the reaction kinetics of sulfur oxidation on the Pd(100) surface by in situ high resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio density functional calculations. Isothermal oxidation experiments were performed between 400 and 500 K for small amounts (~0.02 ML) of preadsorbed sulfur, with oxygen in large excess. The main stable reaction intermediate found on the surface is SO(4), with SO(2) and SO(3) being only present in minor amounts. Density-functional calculations depict a reaction energy profile, which explains the sequential formation of SO(2), SO(3), and eventually SO(4), also highlighting that the in-plane formation of SO from S and O adatoms is the rate limiting step. From the experiments we determined the activation energy of the rate limiting step to be 85 ± 6 kJ mol(-1) by Arrhenius analysis, matching the calculated endothermicity of the SO formation.

The importance of bulk Ti3+ defects in the oxygen chemistry on titania surfaces.

The role of bulk defects in the oxygen chemistry on reduced rutile TiO(2)(110)-(1 × 1) has been studied by means of temperature-programmed desorption spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. Following O(2) adsorption at 130 K, the amount of O(2) desorbing at ∼410 K initially increased with increasing density of surface oxygen vacancies but decreased after further reduction of the TiO(2)(110) crystal. We explain these results by withdrawal of excess charge (Ti(3+)) from the TiO(2)(110) lattice to oxygen species on the surface and by a reaction of Ti interstitials with O adatoms upon heating. Important consequences for the understanding of the O(2)-TiO(2) interaction are discussed.

Adsorption and reaction of SO2 on clean and oxygen precovered Pd(100)--a combined HR-XPS and DF study.

We studied the adsorption and reactivity of SO(2) on clean and oxygen precovered Pd(100) with high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations. Upon adsorption at 120 K two different SO(2) species were detected, which were identified as upright-standing and flat-lying molecules by comparing the calculated core level shifts. In agreement with the relative stabilities determined by the calculations the intensities of the photoelectron spectra indicate that the majority species are upright-standing SO(2). Upon heating the quantitative analysis of the data indicates desorption of SO(3) and formation of atomic sulfur. On the oxygen precovered surface small amounts of SO(3) are formed already upon SO(2) adsorption at low temperatures. Upon heating stepwise oxidation of SO(2) to SO(3) and, eventually, to SO(4) is found. Two different SO(4) species were detected, which are assigned to SO(4) bound in the proximity of or remote from oxygen adatoms, according to core level shift estimates.

Microscopic insights into methane activation and related processes on Pt/ceria model catalysts.

Ceria-based supported noble-metal catalysts release oxygen, which may help to reduce the formation of carbonaceous residues, for example during hydrocarbon reforming. To gain insight into the microscopic origins of these effects, a model study is performed under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions using single-crystal-based supported model catalysts. The model systems are based on ordered CeO(2)(111) films on Cu(111), on which Pt nanoparticles are grown by physical vapor deposition. The growth and structure of the surfaces are characterized by means of scanning tunneling microscopy, and the electronic structure and reactivity are probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Specifically, it is shown that the fully oxidized CeO(2) thin films undergo slight reduction upon Pt deposition (CeO(1.99)). This effect is enhanced upon annealing (CeO(1.96)), thus indicating facile oxygen release and reverse spillover. The model system is structurally stable up to temperatures exceeding 700 K. The activation of methane is investigated using high-kinetic-energy CH(4) (0.83 eV), generated by a supersonic molecular beam. It is shown that dehydrogenation occurs under rapid formation of CH or C species without detectable amounts of CH(3) being formed, even at low temperatures (100 K). The released hydrogen spills over to the CeO(2) support, which leads to the formation of OH groups. At 200 K and above, the OH groups start to decompose leaving additional Ce(3+) centers behind (CeO(1.97-1.94)). At up to 700 K, carbon deposits are quantitatively removed by reaction with oxygen, which is supplied by reverse spillover from the CeO(2) film, thus leading to substantial reduction of the support (approximately CeO(1.90-1.85)).

Ethanol Diffusion on Rutile TiO2(110) Mediated by H Adatoms.

We have studied the diffusion of ethanol on rutile TiO2(110)-(1 × 1) by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Time-lapsed STM images recorded at ∼200 K revealed the diffusion of ethanol molecules both parallel and perpendicular to the rows of surface Ti atoms. The diffusion of ethanol molecules perpendicular to the rows of surface Ti atoms was found to be mediated by H adatoms in the rows of bridge-bonded O (Obr) atoms similarly to previous results obtained for water monomers. In contrast, the diffusion of H adatoms across the Ti rows, mediated by ethanol molecules, was observed only very rarely and exclusively on fully hydrogenated TiO2(110) surfaces. Possible reasons why the diffusion of H adatoms across the Ti rows mediated by ethanol molecules occurs less frequently than the cross-row diffusion of ethanol molecules mediated by H adatoms are discussed.