AVS 51st International Symposium
    Surface Science Tuesday Sessions
       Session SS-TuP

Paper SS-TuP22
Formation and Characterization of Au Coatings Deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition on Alumina Particles for Low Temperature Oxidation of CO

Tuesday, November 16, 2004, 4:00 pm, Room Exhibit Hall B

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: J.T. Calla, University of Virginia
Authors: C.E. Allmond, University of Virginia
M.C. Raphulu, University of Virginia
J.T. Calla, University of Virginia
R.J. Davis, University of Virginia
J.M. Fitz-Gerald, University of Virginia
Correspondent: Click to Email
Laser induced atomic flux processing affects a wide range of existing and emerging products used in aircraft, cutting tools, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, superconductors, pharmaceutical drug formulations that employ micron to submicron sized particulate precursors in their manufacturing process. By attaching atomic to nano-sized clusters either in discrete or continuous form on the surface of the core particles, i.e. nano-functionalization of the particulate surface, materials and products with significantly enhanced properties can be obtained. In this paper we present an alternative use for these materials in the area of Au catalysis. Bulk gold is considered the least reactive metal in heterogeneous catalysis due to repulsion between the orbitals of the adsorbate and gold's filled d states. Gold's catalytic potential is not realized until it is present as supported nanoparticles. Supported gold nanoparticles are recognized as active catalysts for a variety of reactions, such as oxidation, epoxidation of propene, hydrogenation, water gas shift, and NO reduction. Despite intense effort, the underlying principles and the degree of their contribution to the activity of gold catalysts are currently debated. Although not conclusive, several factors have been proposed to explain the high activity of gold nanoparticles. These factors can be generalized into three classifications; metal particle size, metal oxidation state, and synergy between the metal particle and the support.