Klyushin, A.Yu.; Greiner, M.T.; Huang, X.; Lunkenbein, T.; Li, X.; Timpe, O.; Friedrich, M.; Hävecker, M.; Knop-Gericke, A.; Schlögl, R.: Is nanostructuring sufficient to get catalytically active Au? ACS Catalysis 6 (2016), p. 3372–3380
10.1021/acscatal.5b02631
Open Access Version
Abstract:
Gold nanoparticles on transition metal oxides were synthesized by two different methods: precipitation and photo-induced decomposition of intermediate gold-azido complex. Only samples prepared by precipitation method showed significant CO conversion at low temperature. XPS shows the formation of two Au species (Au0 and Auδ+) on the surface of active Au/TiO2 and Au/Fe2O3 samples. The energy shift of Auδ+ peak depends on the support and is 0.6 eV and 0.9 eV for Au/TiO2 and Au/Fe2O3, respectively. TEM images indicate the formation of overlayer on Au particles. These results prove Au activation via a Strong Metal Support Interaction, based on strong influence of the support on the electronic structure of the gold through charge transfer and stabilization of low-coordinated Au atoms.