CO oxidation on Pt(111) at near ambient pressures

The oxidation of CO on Pt(111) was investigated simultaneously by near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and online gas analysis. Different CO:O2 reaction mixtures at total pressures of up to 1 mbar were used in continuous flow mode to obtain an understanding of the surface chemistry. By temperature-programmed and by isothermal measurements, the onset temperature of the reaction was determined for the different reactant mixtures. Highest turnover frequencies were found for the stoichiometric mixture. At elevated temperatures, the reaction becomes diffusion-limited in both temperature-programmed and isothermal measurements. In the highly active regime, no adsorbates were detected on the surface; it is therefore concluded that the catalyst surface is in a metallic state, within the detection limits of the experiment, under the applied conditions. Minor bulk impurities such as silicon were observed to influence the reaction up to total inhibition by formation of non-platinum oxides.