Model catalysts were prepared by deposition in ultra-high vacuum, of size-selected metal clusters on planar supports, including oxide single crystals and thin films or glassy carbon.  The samples were characterized in situ by X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS) and low energy ion scattering (ISS).  Activity of the catalysts was also studied in situ using mass spectrometry in the case of gas-surface reactions, and with a microliter electrochemical cell for electrochemical reactions.  Strong effects of cluster size are typically seen, and the focus is on looking for size-dependent correlations of activity and physical/spectroscopic properties of the catalysts, with the goal of probing the factors that control activity.  In the case of thin film oxide supports, activity is also found to depend strongly and non-monotonically on film thickness, providing an additional look at factors that affect reactivity. Gas-surface reactions of Pt and Pd clusters on oxide surfaces, and electrochemistry of Pt clusters on carbon and ITO electrodes will be used as examples.

Electronic structure-activity correlations in model size-selected catalysts and electrocatalysts

247th National Meeting (2014)

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