Studies of metal-support interactions with real and inverted model systems: reactions of CO and small hydrocarbons with hydrogen on noble metals in contact with oxides

Two types of model catalysts are compared: thin film catalysts consisting of polyhedral noble metal nanocrystals (Rh and Pt) supported by reducible and non-reducible oxides, and their inverted pendants, submonolayers of titania and vanadia deposited under UHV conditions on the respective metal surfaces (Pd and Rh(111) and Rh (polycrystalline)). The structure and composition of the inverse catalysts were examined in situ by LEED and AES and the nanoparticles were characterized by HRTEM. The activity of thin film and inverse catalysts was studied in a series of reactions, such as the ring opening of methylcyclopentane and methylcyclobutane, the dissociation of CO and the CO methanation. Reaction conditions comprise atmospheric pressure but also molecular beam experiments. The reaction rates are related to the oxidation state of the supporting oxide, to the free metal surface area and to the number of sites at the interface between metal and support.