The catalytic activity of oxide-supported metal nanoclusters strongly depends on their size and support. In this study, the thermal stability and changes in the oxidation state during the Fischer Tropsch (FT) reaction was investigated on subnanometer size-selected cobalt clusters deposited on oxide and carbon-based supports. The model catalyst systems were prepared by deposition of size selected cobalt clusters on various metal oxides (Al2O3, MgO) and ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) supports. The size, oxidation state and reactivity of the supported cobalt clusters were investigated by temperature programmed reaction (TPRx) combined with in-situ grazing-incidence X-ray absorption and scattering (GIXAS and GISAXS). The reactivity and selectivity of ultrasmall cobalt clusters exhibits a very strong dependence on cluster size and support. The evolution of the oxidation state of metal cluster during the reaction reveals that metal-support interaction plays a key role in the reaction.

Size-and support-dependent electronic and catalytic properties of size selected cluster catalysts on methanation of CO: A combined GIXAS, GISAXS and TPRx study

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.