Abstract
The use of Pt–Rh catalysts is central in a number of industrial processes, and to explain their performance it is essential to have a solid understanding of their nanoscopic surface structure. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy to investigate the growth, elemental nanostructuring, and reconstruction behavior of various Pt–Rh near-surface alloys (NSA) on fcc Rh(111) and Pt(111). We document the formation of a novel lamellar island reconstruction atop Pt/Rh(111) islands as well as network reconstructions on Rh/Pt(111), similar to those previously observed for Pt/Pt(111). The extended roadmap for preparation of PtRh NSAs allows comparison with other homo/heteroepitaxial metal/fcc surfaces and provides a facile guideline for producing tailor-made model catalytic surfaces.
Highlights
PtRh alloys are active catalysts for high-temperature (1100− 1500 K) industrial processes (HNO3 and HCN production) and for NOx abatement at milder process conditions (
When a solute metal is present at the surface or near the surface of a host metal in concentrations different from the bulk, the obtained composition constitutes respectively a surface or a near-surface alloy (NSA).[1,4]
On Pt(111), dendrites, triangles, truncated triangles, and hexagonal islands of Ru, Rh, and Pt commonly grow along 6-fold symmetry directions as a function of temperature.[5−7] In particular, recently we summarized a roadmap of the heteroepitaxy, growth, and mixing of Rh on Pt(111).[7]
Summary
PtRh alloys are active catalysts for high-temperature (1100− 1500 K) industrial processes (HNO3 and HCN production) and for NOx abatement at milder process conditions (
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