Role of anionic vacancies in lithium fluoride in the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide on the surface of the Au/LiF/Mo(110) system

Abstract

The oxidation of carbon monoxide molecules on the surface of gold nanoclusters formed on a lithium fluoride film has been investigated by IR spectroscopy and temperature-programed reaction. The CO oxidation rate is much higher in the case of gold clusters produced on the surface of a LiF film enriched with anionic vacancies (F-centers). This is due to the fact that the gold clusters bonded to F-centers of the substrate differ in electronic state from the clusters that are not bonded to F-centers.