Distinct Reaction Mechanisms in the Catalytic Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide on Rh(110): Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Density Functional Theory Studies

C. Castellarin Cudia; Saw Wai Hla; G. Comelli; Ž. Šljivančanin; B. Hammer; A. Baraldi; K. C. Prince; R. Rosei

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.196104

Distinct Reaction Mechanisms in the Catalytic Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide on Rh(110): Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Density Functional Theory Studies

C. Castellarin Cudia, Saw Wai Hla, G. Comelli, Ž. Šljivančanin, B. Hammer, A. Baraldi, K. C. Prince, and R. Rosei

Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 196104 – Published 19 October 2001

Abstract

By means of scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations, we identify the reaction mechanism for the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide on the Rh(110) surface at 160 K, which appears to be completely different than the one active at room temperature. The reasons for these different behaviors are determined. Our results demonstrate that even for a very simple catalytic reaction, the microscopic mechanism can dramatically change with temperature, following pathways that differ for nucleation sites and surface propagation and involve different surface moieties.

Received 16 May 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.196104

Authors & Affiliations

C. Castellarin Cudia¹, Saw Wai Hla^2,3,*, G. Comelli^1,2,†, Ž. Šljivančanin⁴, B. Hammer⁴, A. Baraldi^1,2,5, K. C. Prince⁵, and R. Rosei^1,2

¹Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, via Valerio 2, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
²Laboratorio T.A.S.C.-I.N.F.M., Strada Statale 14, km 163.5, I-34012 Basovizza (Trieste), Italy
³I.C.T.P., Strada Costiera 11, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
⁴Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
⁵Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5, I-34012 Basovizza (Trieste), Italy

^*Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701.
^†To whom correspondence should be addressed.Email address: giovanni.comelli@elettra.trieste.it