Exothermic catalytic reactions on transition metal surfaces produce molecules that desorb in equilibrium with the temperature of the metal surface i.e. all the reaction heat adsorbs in the metal. Strong metal-oxide support interaction (SMSI) indicates the important roles the oxide-metal interfaces play in controlling the turnover rates and selectivities in catalytic reactions. Exothermic reactions and photons generate hot electron flow on the femtosecond scale that is detectable of oxide-metal nanodiode interfaces which correlates with the turnover rates of catalytic reactions of CO/O2 and H2/O2 among them. The general name acid-base catalysis is applied to all phenomena that involve charged molecules in the transition state. Recent studies aiming to develop an atomic and molecular level understanding of catalytic acid-base reactions using laser spectroscopy and synchrotron based techniques that interrogate the catalyst surfaces under reaction conditions are discussed.

Hot electron surface chemistry at oxide-metal interfaces: The foundation of acid-base catalysis

249th National Meeting (2015)

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