The adsorption of Cu on the CeO2(110) surface

DOI: 10.1039/C7CP04144F

Authors: Arunabhiram Chutia (University College London; UK Catalysis Hub) , Emma Gibson (University College London; UK Catalysis Hub) , Matthew R. Farrow (University College London) , Peter Wells (UK Catalysis Hub; University of Southampton; Diamond Light Source) , David O. Scanlon (University College London; Diamond Light Source) , Nikolaos Dimitratos (Cardiff University) , David J. Willock (Cardiff University) , C. Richard A. Catlow (UK Catalysis Hub; University College London; Cardiff University)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

State: Published (Approved)
Published: August 2017
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 10306 , 15151

Abstract: We report a detailed density functional theory (DFT) study in conjunction with X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) experiments on the geometrical and local electronic properties of Cu adatoms and Cu(II) ions in presence of water molecules and of CuO nanoclusters on the CeO2(110) surface. Our study of (CuO)n(=1, 2 & 4) clusters on CeO2(110) shows that based on the Cu–O environment, the geometrical properties of these clusters may vary and their presence may lead to relatively higher localization of charges on the exposed surfaces. We find that in presence of an optimum concentration of water molecules, Cu has a square pyramidal geometry, which agrees well with our experimental findings; we also find that Cu(II) facilitates water adsorption on the CeO2(110) surface. We further show that at a critical concentration of water molecules is required for the hydrolysis of water on Cu(OH)2/CeO2(110) and on pristine CeO2(110) surfaces.

Journal Keywords: DFT; EXAFS; electronic properties; CeO2(110) surface; Cu adatom; Cu(II) ion; CuO nanoclusters

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Physics


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS

Added On: 29/08/2017 09:44

Documents:
C7CP04144F.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Surfaces Hard condensed matter - electronic properties Physics Physical Chemistry Catalysis Chemistry

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES)