Multiple Reaction Paths for CO Oxidation on a 2D SnO_x Nano-Oxide on the Pt(110) Surface: Intrinsic Reactivity and Spillover

An interface stabilized SnOx/Pt(110) nano-oxide characterized by a c(2 × 4) surface reconstruction is prepared and characterized by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Based on the experimental data, atomic models for the nano-oxide are proposed and then validated by comparing the experimental results with the outcome of first-principle calculations.

The reactivity of the nano-oxide toward CO is investigated, obtaining that the c(2 × 4) reconstruction efficiently oxidizes CO to CO2. The SnOx nano-oxide on the Pt(110) surface can act as a reservoir for oxygen that can diffuse on the adjacent Pt areas where it oxidizes CO. This spillover effect endows the SnOx/Pt(110) system with enhanced tolerance to CO poisoning.