Catalysis by supported single atoms has been observed for Pd/MgO and Pt/Fe2O3 systems. The proposed mechanisms require support participation.  In our work, we demonstrate that single Pt atoms supported on ?-alumina can be synthesized. The characterization of the material by EXAFS and XANES suggests that the catalyst is predominantly single atoms, while aberration-corrected EM and IR studies show it to be composed exclusively of single Pt atoms. The CO oxidation on our Pt/?-alumina is quite facile. We present the results of first principle studies of the CO oxidation on Pt/?-alumina and describe energetically favored pathways that do not involve the substrate in the CO oxidation process. Our proposed pathway involves intermediates that have been observed in the reaction of CO and O2 with (Ph3P)2Pt which is not surprising since the Pt center of our Pt/?-alumina catalyst is isoelectronic with Pt in (Ph3P)2Pt.

Catalysis on single Pt atoms supported on [theta]-alumina

245th National Meeting (2013)

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