Controlling Hydrogen Activation, Spillover, and Desorption with Pd-Au Single-Atom Alloys

Key descriptors in hydrogenation catalysis are the nature of the active sites for H2 activation and the adsorption strength of H atoms to the surface. Using atomically resolved model systems of dilute Pd-Au surface alloys and density functional theory calculations, we determine key aspects of H2 activation, diffusion, and desorption. Pd monomers in a Au(111) surface catalyze the dissociative adsorption of H2 at temperatures as low as 85 K, a process previously expected to require contiguous Pd sites. H atoms preside at the Pd sites and desorb at temperatures significantly lower than those from pure Pd (175 versus 310 K). This facile H2 activation and weak adsorption of H atom intermediates are key requirements for active and selective hydrogenations. We also demonstrate weak adsorption of CO, a common catalyst poison, which is sufficient to force H atoms to spill over from Pd to Au sites, as evidenced by low-temperature H2 desorption.