N2O + CO reaction over single Ga or Ge atom embedded graphene: A DFT study

Abstract

The possibility of using a single Ga or Ge atom embedded graphene as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of N2O molecule by CO is examined. We perform density functional theory calculations to calculate adsorption energies as well as analysis of the structural and electronic properties of different species involved in the N2O + CO reaction. The large activation energy for the diffusion of the single Ga or Ge atom on the C vacancy site of graphene shows the high stability of both Ga- and Ge-embedded graphene sheets in the N2O reduction. The activation energy needed for the decomposition of N2O is calculated to be 18.4 and 14.1 kcal/mol over Ga- and Ge-embedded graphene, respectively. The results indicate that the Ge-embedded graphene may serve as an effective catalyst for the N2O reduction. Moreover, the activation energy for the disproportionation of N2O molecules that generates N2 and O2 is relatively high; so, the generation of these side products may be hindered by decreasing the temperature.