Understanding the catalytic conversion of automobile exhaust emissions using model catalysts: CO+NO reaction on Pd(111)

The CO+NO reaction is one of the profoundly important reactions that take place on Pd-based industrial three-way catalysts (TWC). In this review, we discuss results from polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRAS) and conventional IRAS experiments on CO adsorption, NO adsorption and the CO+NO reaction on a Pd(111) model catalyst surface within a wide range of pressures (10–450Torr) and temperatures (80–650K). It will be shown that these studies allow for a detailed understanding of the adsorption behavior of these species as well as the nature of the products that are formed during their reaction under realistic catalytic conditions. CO adsorption experiments on Pd(111) at elevated pressures reveal that CO overlayers exhibit similar adsorption structures as found for ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. On the other hand, in the case of the CO+NO reaction on Pd(111), the pressure dependent formation of isocyanate containing species’ was observed. The importance of this observation and its effects on the improvement of the catalytic NOx abatement is discussed. The kinetics of the CO+NO reaction on Pd(111) were also investigated and the factors affecting its selectivity are addressed.