Carbon subsurface traffic jam as driver for methane oxidation activity and selectivity on palladium surfaces
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Separating how surface and subsurface species affect catalytic function is a challenging task in heterogeneous catalysis, particularly when deposition and segregation take place at reaction conditions. Here, we report on an operando approach to establish surface/subsurface/function correlations. Using temperature modulations we oscillate carbon deposition and segregation over a Pd catalyst. Catalytic composition and function are monitored during methane oxidation showing that the surface coverage of carbon drives partial oxidation to CO, while subsurface carbon controls the overall methane turnover. Also, we show that a carbon traffic jam in the subsurface leads to a shifting selectivity from H 2 to H 2 O formation, highlighting the importance of the catalyst subsurface for the catalytic reaction.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: Lund University, NanoLund, MAX IV Laboratory, University of Trieste
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: G1088588257, Time-resolved catalysis and ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy, G208125138, G317939215, G3728818118, Off-equilibrium model catalysis studied in real time and at real conditions, G4828841833, G5096929151, MAX IV operations – Formas, G5224014036, G5229471624, G594270511, G712881263, MAX IV operations 2019-2021
OpenAlex ID: W4413353274