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Research Highlight

Surface Facets Control Catalysis over Perovskite Catalysts via Ruling the Degree of Surface Reconstruction

Topic:

Scientific Achievement

The crystal facets were found to impose an indirect effect on the acid-base catalysis of SrTiO3 (STO) via controlling the degree of surface reconstruction: the reconstruction-derived step sites on STO are identified as the active centers for isopropanol conversion and their abundance is surface facet-dependent.

Significance and Impact

Understanding the interplay between facets and surface reconstruction of complex oxides is important for controlling the nature and density of active sties and thus provides design principle for more efficient oxide catalysts.

Research Details

  • Hydrothermal synthesis led to shaped SrTiO3 (STO). STEM visualized the presence of step sites on different facets including (100) and (110) on STO upon surface reconstruction after O2 pretreatment.
  • Low energy ion scattering and XPS confirmed occurrence of surface reconstruction on STO facets.
  • Stead state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) confirmed and quantified step sites as the active sites for isopropanol conversion over STO, which was further supported by DFT calculations.
  Bao, Zhenghong, Fung, Victor, Polo Garzon, Felipe, Hood, Zachary, Cao, Shaohong, Chi, Miaofang, Bai, Lei, Jiang, De-en, and Wu, Zili. Thu . "The interplay between surface facet and reconstruction on isopropanol conversion over SrTiO3 nanocrystals". United States. doi:10.1016/j.jcat.2020.02.014