Concluding remarks: Photoelectron spectroscopy and the future of surface analysis

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Direct Evidence of Subsurface Oxygen Formation in Oxide-Derived Cu by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Hsin-Yi Wang et al.

Summary: This study validates the existence of subsurface oxygen in oxide-derived copper (OD-Cu) electrocatalysts. The findings provide important evidence for understanding the performance of OD-Cu in CO2 reduction reaction.

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Operando Observation of Oxygenated Intermediates during CO Hydrogenation on Rh Single Crystals

David Degerman et al.

Summary: The CO hydrogenation reaction over the Rh(111) and (211) surfaces has been studied operando using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at a pressure of 150 mbar. Observations of the resting state of the catalyst provide mechanistic insight into the selectivity of Rh for ethanol generation from CO hydrogenation. The study shows that the Rh(111) surface does not dissociate all CO molecules before hydrogenation of the O and C atoms, resulting in the visibility of methoxy and other oxygenated and hydrogenated species in the photoelectron spectra.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

The state of zinc in methanol synthesis over a Zn/ZnO/Cu(211) model catalyst

Peter Amann et al.

Summary: This study used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to investigate the active state of Zn in a Zn-Cu catalyst during CO2/CO hydrogenation and the nature of reaction intermediates. The results showed that CO2 hydrogenation preferentially formed ZnO clusters or nanoparticles, while pure CO hydrogenation resulted in the formation of a surface Zn-Cu alloy. CO played a specific role in the formation of the Zn-Cu alloy, which acted as an active phase in facilitating efficient CO2 methanol synthesis.

SCIENCE (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

In Situ Surface-Sensitive Investigation of Multiple Carbon Phases on Fe(110) in the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Mikhail Shipilin et al.

Summary: This study investigates the detailed mechanism of carbide formation on iron-based catalysts and the effect of reaction conditions on the catalyst surface state through experiments and theoretical calculations.

ACS CATALYSIS (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

The Structure of the Active Pd State During Catalytic Carbon Monoxide Oxidization

Christopher M. Goodwin et al.

Summary: By using grazing incidence X-rays and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the long-range surface structure of Pd(100) during the catalytic oxidation of CO was investigated. Two proposed models for the system were compared, and the suggestion of metallic islands formed on top of the oxide island was found to be consistent with the data.

JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS (2021)

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Article Physics, Multidisciplinary

Ultrafast Adsorbate Excitation Probed with Subpicosecond-Resolution X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Elias Diesen et al.

Summary: Using a pump-probe scheme, the study investigated the time evolution of the C K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum from CO/Ru(0001) after excitation by an ultrashort high-intensity optical laser pulse. By comparing with density functional theory spectrum calculations, they found high excitation of internal modes occurring within 200 fs, as well as thermalization of the system in the picosecond regime. The ultrafast initial excitation of vibrational modes may be attributed to the coupling of the adsorbate to nonthermalized electron-hole pairs.

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS (2021)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Bridging the Pressure Gap in CO Oxidation

Sara Blomberg et al.

Summary: Performing fundamental operando catalysis studies under realistic conditions is crucial for industrial catalyst efficiency improvement. This study conducted CO oxidation experiments on Pd(100) at 1 bar total pressure using XPS, revealing surface chemical composition at an atomistic level and tracking reaction kinetics in real-time based on observed gas-phase photoemission peaks.

ACS CATALYSIS (2021)

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Article Chemistry, Physical