Subsurface-Carbon-Induced Local Charge of Copper for an On-Surface Displacement Reaction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Transition-metal carbides are recognized as effective catalysts.
• Copper carbide's catalytic potential remains largely uninvestigated.
• Understanding surface reactions at the atomic level is crucial for catalyst design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the catalytic properties of copper carbide.
• To investigate the effect of subsurface carbon doping on Cu(111) surfaces.
• To demonstrate atomic-scale chemical reactions on a novel catalytic platform.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing subsurface carbon doping on a Cu(111) surface.
• Observing the displacement reaction of a proton in a carboxyl acid group with a copper atom.
• Employing atomic-scale characterization at room temperature.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a displacement reaction of a proton with a copper atom at the atomic scale and room temperature.
• Attributed the reaction to C-doping-induced positive charge on surface Cu atoms (up to +0.30 e/atom).
• Showcased accelerated on-surface deprotonation due to reduced energy barriers.

Conclusions:

• Subsurface carbon doping creates a catalytically active Cuδ+ surface.
• This novel copper carbide surface facilitates on-surface synthesis.
• The findings open new avenues for designing advanced catalytic materials.