The interaction of oxygen with isolated silver particles of ca. 70 nm supported on α-alumina. Part 1.—Oxygen sorption and temperature-programmed desorption measurements

Abstract

The interaction of oxygen with a silver catalyst containing isolated silver particles of ca. 70 nm supported on α- Al2O3 has been studied using (combined) volumetric adsorption and temperature-programmed desorption measurements after various pretreatments. The amount of oxygen taken up is greatly influenced by the pretreatment. Considerable amounts of oxygen are able to penetrate into the silver lattice. Impurities present in or on the silver particles strongly affect the amount of oxygen taken up at 443 K. It is argued that penetrated oxygen can facilitate the reorganization of the silver surface giving rise to low-index facets.