ReactorSTM : imaging catalysts under realistic conditions

Herbschleb, C.T. (2011)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis describes the construction of a second generation high-pressure, high-temperature scanning tunneling microscope, the ReactorSTM, with which the surfaces of catalysts can be studied under relevant reaction conditions. Furthermore, the thesis describes three separate catalytic systems at ~ 1 bar, and elevated temperatures. Firstly, NO reduction on Pt(100), in which a mathematical model for the reaction mechanism, following Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics, is proposed. Secondly, CO oxidation, in which the Pt(110) surface is atomically resolved at high p, T. Thirdly, the thesis describes a successful pilot experiment about the hydrodesulphurization of thiophene, which is catalytically activated by molybdenum disulphide nano-crystallites on an Au(111) support.

• Catalysis
• CO oxidation
• Hydrodesulphurization
• Langmuir-Hinshelwood
• Molybdenum disulphide
• NO reduction
• Platinum
• ReactorSTM
• Realistic Conditions
• Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

• All authors: Herbschleb, C.T.
• Supervisor: Frenken, J.W.M.
• Committee: Chorkendorff, I.; Speller, S.; Ruitenbeek, J.M. van; Nieuwenhuys, B.E.; Niemantsverdriet, J.W.; Nelissen, B.J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2011-05-10
• Title of host publication: Casimir PhD Series
• ISBN (print): 9789085930983
• Name: 2011-8
• Court: LEI Universiteit Leiden
• Sponsorship: NanoNed (www.nanoned.nl) NIMIC (www.realnano.nl)