Model NSR catalysts: Fabrication and reactivity of barium oxide layers on Cu(1 1 1)

Abstract

The growth of barium oxide on a Cu(1 1 1) substrate, formed by the deposition of barium and its subsequent oxidation, yields stable BaO films which expose predominantly the BaO(1 0 0) surface. The interaction of the oxide films with common components of motor-vehicle exhaust gases (CO 2, H 2O, NO x ) has been studied using surface analytical techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and reflection IR spectroscopy (RAIRS). The spectroscopic identification of Ba(OH) 2, BaCO 3 and Ba(NO 2) 2 phases is discussed, and the relative stabilities and decomposition mechanisms of these materials when supported on Cu(1 1 1) is revealed by a combination of TPD and XPS. BaO is shown to be resistant to reaction with pure NO and NO/O 2 mixtures, but exposure to NO 2 leads to the rapid formation of barium nitrite. The formation of the nitrite is proposed to be the first-step in the production of barium nitrate, which has previously been shown to be the main phase involved in NO x storage and reduction (NSR) catalysis.