Heterolytic and heterotopic dissociation of hydrogen on ceria-supported gold nanoparticles. Combined inelastic neutron scattering and FT-IR spectroscopic study on the nature and reactivity of surface hydrogen species
Inelastic neutron scattering of gold nanoparticles (3-4 nm, 0.48 wt%) supported on nanoparticulate ceria (5 nm) (Au/CeO2) shows that hydrogen treatment of Au/CeO2 gives rise to the appearance of a new band (400-600 cm(-1)) corresponding to bridging hydroxyl groups. This band disappears (without observing the appearance of any new band) when the sample is exposed to CO2 or O-2. FT-IR spectroscopy on the same samples shows the formation of Au-H after hydrogen chemisorption. The Au-H band also disappears when the sample is subsequently treated with CO2 or O-2. In the last case formation of hydroperoxide is observed. The band assignments were supported by isotopic labelling with D-2 and O-18(2). The above data clearly establish that upon treatment of Au/CeO2 with hydrogen at 150 degrees C, heterolytic bond cleavage of dihydrogen occurs leading to a proton bonded to a ceria oxygen and a hydride bonded to gold.