Abstract
Cluster-assembled materials open fascinating new routes for tuning physical and chemical properties by changing cluster size and often behave completely differently than their bulk analogues. By depositing gas phase Pd clusters on MgO thin films, model catalysts are fabricated which exhibit remarkable catalytic activity. In contrast to the high selectivity of Pd (111) surfaces for the cyclotrimerization of acetylene to benzene, small supported Pdn clusters reveal a strongly size-dependent selectivity and catalyse the formation of benzene as well as of other hydrocarbons. The understanding at the atomistic level of the observed processes has been obtained by means of first-principles quantum-mechanical simulations. The theoretical studies have shown the importance of the surface defects of the oxide substrate in stabilizing the supported clusters but also in promoting their catalytic activity. For instance, Pd atoms bound at the regular sites of the MgO (100) terraces do not promote the acetylene to benzene conversion while they become active catalysts when bound at oxygen vacancies (F centers).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 37-42 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Thin Solid Films |
Volume | 400 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 3 Dec 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | Proceedings of Symposium N on Ultrathin Oxides (E-MRS) - Strasbourg, France Duration: 5 Jun 2001 → 8 Jun 2001 |
Keywords
- Ab initio calculations
- MgO thin films
- Pd clusters
- Point defects