Selective adsorption of trace H2O over O2 on Pt/Fe/Pt(1 1 1) surface of Pt-Fe catalyst

Abstract

The selective adsorption of trace water over O2 is reported on Pt/Fe/Pt(1 1 1) surface of Pt-Fe model catalysts by using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). The Pt/Fe/Pt(1 1 1) surface has a sandwich structure of the topmost Pt atomic layer, subsurface Fe layer and underlying Pt(1 1 1) bulk, and presents the lower density of states (DOS) at 0–2.0 eV below the Fermi level with reference to Pt(1 1 1). On the Pt/Fe/Pt(1 1 1) surface the chemisorption of both O2 and H2O would be weakened with different extents, which would change the relative order of their adsorption strength. At 105 K and exposure to O2 with 0.1% v/v water, chemisorbed water species are dominated on the Pt/Fe/Pt(1 1 1) surface, while chemisorbed O2 species are dominated on Pt(1 1 1) surface. The selective adsorption of trace water on Pt/Fe/Pt(1 1 1) surface could provide a hint that the well-tuned electronic structure of bimetallic catalysts might change the relative amount of surface species significantly and produce an influential effect on the CO reaction route at low temperatures.