IUVSTA 15th International Vacuum Congress (IVC-15), AVS 48th International Symposium (AVS-48), 11th International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-11)
    Surface Science Thursday Sessions
       Session SS1-ThP

Paper SS1-ThP1
A Model Catalyst in Motion: Restructuring of a Pt(110) Surface at Atmospheric Pressure

Thursday, November 1, 2001, 5:30 pm, Room 134/135

Session: Catalysis on Model Systems Poster Session
Presenter: B.L.M. Hendriksen, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Authors: B.L.M. Hendriksen, Leiden University, The Netherlands
J.W.M. Frenken, Leiden University, The Netherlands
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The surface structure of a catalyst can depend on the reaction conditions. However, most model studies have been performed at well-defined, but strongly non-realistic, conditions such as ultrahigh vacuum or very low pressures. We have used a novel high pressure, high temperature scanning tunneling microscope, which is set up as a micro-flow reactor, to study a platinum (110) surface at semi-realistic conditions for CO oxidation, i.e. high pressure and temperature. Already a low partial pressures of CO induces the lifting of the Pt(110)-(1x2) missing row reconstruction [T. Gritsch et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 1086 (1989)] to form a tiger-skin like structure consisting of (1x1) patches. As soon we apply an atmospheric pressure of CO at 425 K, this intermediate structure coarsens to form smooth (1x1) terraces, as we have observed in STM-movies.