Understanding catalysis, and in particular heterogeneous catalysis, has been based on the investigation of model systems. The enormous success of metal single crystal model surface chemistry, pioneered by physical chemists, is an outstanding example. Increasing the complexity of the models towards supported nanoparticles, resembling a real disperse metal catalyst, allows one to catch in the model some of the important aspects that cannot be covered by single crystals alone. One of the more important aspects is the oxide-particle interface. We have developed strategies to prepare model systems based on single crystalline oxide films which are used as supports for metal and oxide nanoparticles, whose geometric structure, morphology, electronic structure, as well as interaction and reaction with molecules from the gas phase may be studied at the atomic level. Such oxide films, in particular but not only those of reduced thickness, show interesting intrinsic catalytic behavior. Lessons learned from thin oxide films may be transferred to design systems of bulk materials with specific surface chemistry.

Model catalyst design: A material science perspective at the atomic level

249th National Meeting (2015)

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