An automated reaction route mapping for the reaction of NO and active species on Ag4 clusters in zeolites

A computational investigation of the catalytic reaction on multinuclear sites is very challenging. Here, using an automated reaction route mapping method, the single-component artificial force induced reaction (SC-AFIR) algorithm, the catalytic reaction of NO and OH/OOH species over the Ag-4(2+) cluster in a zeolite is investigated. The results of the reaction route mapping for H-2 + O-2 reveal that OH and OOH species are formed over the Ag-4(2+) cluster via an activation barrier lower than that of OH formation from H2O dissociation. Then, reaction route mapping is performed to examine the reactivity of the OH and OOH species with NO molecules over the Ag-4(2+) cluster, resulting in the facile reaction path of HONO formation. With the aid of the automated reaction route mapping, the promotion effect of H-2 addition on the SCR reaction was computationally proposed (boosting the formation of OH and OOH species). In addition, the present study emphasizes that automated reaction route mapping is a powerful tool to elucidate the complicated reaction pathway on multi-nuclear clusters.

Automated summary

By using the SC-AFIR algorithm, the catalytic reaction of NO and OH/OOH species over the Ag-4(2+) cluster in a zeolite was investigated. It was found that the formation of OH and OOH species has lower activation barriers, and the addition of hydrogen promotes their formation, thus enhancing the activity of the SCR reaction. The study highlights the power of automated reaction route mapping in elucidating complicated reaction pathways on multi-nuclear clusters.