DFT Study of NO Reduction Process on Ag/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst: Some Aspects of Mechanism and Catalyst Structure

Catalysts based on Ag/gamma-Al2O3 are perspective systems for practical implementation of catalytic NO reduction. Nevertheless, the mechanism and regularities of this process have still not been fully investigated. Herein, we present the results of quantum-chemical research of the Ag/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst surface and some aspects of the NO reduction mechanism on it. Proposed calculation methods using DFT and cluster models of the catalyst surface are compared and verified. The possibility of existence of small adsorbed neutral and cationic silver clusters on the surface of the catalyst is shown. It is demonstrated that NO adsorption on these clusters is energetically favorable, in the form of both monomers and dimers. The scheme of NO selective catalytic reduction (SCR) that explains increasing of N2O side-product amount on catalysts with silver fraction more than 2 wt % is proposed. The feasibility of this scheme is justified with calculated data. Some recommendations that allow decreasing amounts of N2O are developed.

Automated summary

The research investigates quantum-chemical aspects of the Ag/γ-Al2O3 catalyst surface and the NO reduction mechanism. It shows the potential existence of small adsorbed neutral and cationic silver clusters on the catalyst surface, with energetically favorable NO adsorption. The study proposes a scheme explaining the increase of N2O side-product on catalysts with silver fraction over 2 wt %.