XPS and STM studies of the oxidation of hydrogen chloride at Cu(100) surfaces

The dissociative chemisorption of HCl on clean and oxidized Cu(100) surfaces has been investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Whereas the dissociation of HCl at the clean surface is limited to the formation of a (√ 2 × √ 2)-R45° Cl(a) monolayer, the presence of surface oxygen removes this barrier, leading to chlorine coverages up to twice that obtained at the clean surface. Additional features in the STM images that appear at these coverages are tentatively assigned to the nucleation of CuCl islands. The rate of reaction of the HCl was slightly higher on the oxidized surface but unaffected by the initial oxygen concentration or the availability of clean copper sites. Of the two distinct domains of adsorbed oxygen identified at room temperature on the Cu(100) surfaces, the (√ 2 × √ 2)-R45° structure reacts slightly faster with HCl than the missing row (√ 2 × 2 √ 2)-R45° O(a) structure. The results address the first stages in the formation of a copper chloride and present an interesting comparison with the HCl/O(a) reaction at Cu(110) surfaces, where oxygen also increased the extent of HCl reactions. The results emphasize the importance of the exothermic reaction to form water in the HCl/O(a) reaction on copper

Enhancing surface reactivity with a noble metal

Gold, the archetypal noble metal, is usually associated with an inhibition of surface reactivity by site blocking. In this paper however, we show that on Cu(100) surfaces a gold adlayer can actually increase the extent of reaction with the substrate

Fabrication of complex model oxide catalysts: Mo oxide supported on Fe3O4(111)

Industrial catalysts for the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde consist of iron molybdate [Fe2(MoO4)3]. Using a variety of techniques we have previously shown that the surface of these catalysts is segregated in MoO3, and in order to understand the relationship between surface structure and reactivity for these systems we have begun a surface science study of this system using model, single crystal oxides. Model catalysts of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles and films on an Fe3O4 (111) single crystal were fabricated by the hot-filament metal oxide deposition technique (HFMOD), where molybdenum oxides were produced using a molybdenum filament heated in an oxygen atmosphere. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) have been used to investigate molybdenum oxide nanoparticles and films deposited on Fe3O4 (111). The molybdenum oxide film forms in the highest oxidation state, 6+, and is remarkably stable to thermal treatment, remaining on the surface to at least 973 K. However, above ~ 573 K cation mixing begins to occur, forming an iron molybdate structure, but the process is strongly Mo coverage dependent

Hydrochlorination of acetylene using supported bimetallic Au-based catalysts

A detailed study of the hydrochlorination of acetylene and higher alkynes using a supported gold catalyst is described and discussed. A series of reactions using sequential exposure of the catalysts to C2H2 and HCl demonstrate that exposure to HCl prior to reaction of C2H2/HCl leads to enhanced activity whereas exposure to C2H2 leads to deactivation. The reaction of higher alkynes is affected by steric factors with the trend in activity being: acetylene (ca. 40 % conversion)>> hex-1-yne (10%)>phenylacetylene (7 %) > hex-2-yne (2 %) under standard reaction conditions. Using 1H-NMR spectroscopy we have found that for hex-1-yne and phenyl acetylene the anti-Markovnikov product is formed by anti addition of HCl. However, the Markovnikov products are equivalent for syn- and antiaddition of HCl, and hence we investigated the reaction using deuterated substrates and confirmed the products are formed by the anti addition of HCl. The reaction mechanism is discussed in detail

Modifications of the metal and support during the deactivation and regeneration of Au/C catalysts for the hydrochlorination of acetylene

The effect of the gold oxidation state and carbon structure on the activity of Au/C catalysts for the hydrochlorination of acetylene was investigated by a combined approach using TPR, XPS and porosimetry determinations. The activity of the catalyst in the synthesis of vinyl chloride monomer was found to be dependent on the presence of Au3+ species in the catalyst. However, by preparing catalysts with different Au3+ content it was possible to determine the existence of a threshold Au3+ amount, beyond which the excess of Au3+ was not active for the reaction. This was explained by the existence of active sites at the Au/C interface, and not just by the presence of Au3+ species on top of Au nanoparticles, as explained by current models for these catalysts. It was also possible to determine the existence of a subset of Au nanoclusters which do not take part in the reaction, as well as changes in the textural properties of the carbon that can affect its long term reusability

Aqua regia activated Au/C catalysts for the hydrochlorination of acetylene

Au/C catalysts are effective materials for the gas phase hydrochlorination of acetylene to vinyl chloride monomer, and to date, the most effective catalyst preparation protocol makes use of impregnation using aqua regia. In the present study, the effect of this solvent is evaluated and discussed in detail by modifying the ratio of HCl and HNO3 and the temperature of the impregnation step. These factors are observed to affect the Au3+/Au0 ratio of the final catalyst, in addition to the modification of the functional groups of the carbon used as support. The results can be rationalised by the oxidation effect of HNO3 on both the gold nanoparticles and the functional groups on the carbon surface, as well as a nucleation effect of HCl towards gold over the carbon support

The effect of heat treatment on the performance and structure of carbon-supported Au-Pd catalysts for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide

The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide using supported gold palladium catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation is described and discussed. The effect of an acid pre-treatment step on the activated carbon support prior to the deposition of the metals, together with the effect of the calcination temperature, has been investigated. The acid pre-treated samples all show superior activity to those materials prepared with the omission of this acid pre-treatment stage. The calcination temperature affects both the re-usability and hydrogenation activity of the catalysts. Detailed characterisation using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy is described. The enhanced activity is associated with a higher surface concentration of palladium in the acid pre-treated samples which is principally present as Pd2+. Calcination of the catalysts at 400 °C is required to achieve re-usable and stable catalysts, and this is associated with the morphology and dispersion of the metal nanoparticles. The surface ratio of Pd0/Pd2+ is found to be an important factor controlling the hydrogenation of hydrogen peroxide, and a series of controlled reduction and re-oxidation of a sample show how the Pd0/Pd2+ surface ratio can influence the relative rates of hydrogen peroxide synthesis and hydrogenation