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Hydrogen Pretreatment Programs Oxidative Surface Reconstruction for Enhanced Lattice-Oxygen Reactivity in Co3O4

Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The oxidation activity of reducible oxides is closely linked to the nature of lattice oxygen species, and reductive treatments are often used to tailor the low-temperature reactivity by modifying the surface coordination environment. Here, using Co3O4 and the oxidation of 2-propanol as a model reaction, we demonstrate that a further enhancement of the low-temperature activity can be achieved by extending the reduction beyond conventional surface modification to access distinct, metastable CoO surface terminations. These terminations spontaneously reconstruct under oxidizing conditions into oxygen-rich surface structures that exhibit enhanced lattice oxygen reactivity and are key to the improved lowtemperature activity. This work establishes programmed surface reconstruction through a defined reduction-oxidation sequence as a strategy for engineering highly reactive lattice oxygen sites in reducible oxides.
Source: ChemRxiv
DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.15008390/v1
Authors: Silvio Bellomi, Jonathan Rollenitz, Christoph Rameshan, Daniel C. Cano-Blanco, Christian M. Pichler, Prathamesh Patil, Pongtanawat Khemthong, Panot Krukkratoke, Jakkapop Phanthasri, Sirinuch Loiha, Jakob Peer, Alexander K. Opitz, Karin Föttinger
Institutions: TU Wien, Montanuniversität Leoben, Paul Scherrer Institute, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, National Science and Technology Development Agency, National Nanotechnology Center, Khon Kaen University
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7211903046
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