Direct observation of defect dynamics in Au catalysts
The elucidation of the function of Au catalysts based on reducible carriers (cerium dioxide, titanium dioxide) is the subject of current research.
Our latest work on Au/cerium dioxide catalysts, recently published in the journal J. Phys. Chem. C, provides a direct indication of the defect dynamics of the support material and its relevance for CO oxidation.
In particular, the application of combined operando Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopy allows to follow the cerium dioxide defect dynamics in the surface region quantitatively and in real time.
Our results indicate the great importance of the carrier properties for oxidation reactions over metal/ceria catalysts.
