Catalytic behavior at the nanoscale: CO adsorption on Al2O3-supported Pt clusters

The study of the adsorption and growth of metals on ceramics is a rapidly growing area, as these interactions are key to understanding many materials and processes used in modern technology. In particular, oxide-supported catalysts have been extensively studied, due to their widespread industrial applications. Knowledge of the role played by the underlying metal oxide in the reactivity of the metal catalyst can give insights into the design of more effective catalysts. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the adsorption of CO onto 1) bulk Pt, 2) Pt thin layers supported on an α-alumina surface and 3) Pt nanoparticles on α-alumina. Our results show strong binding for CO molecules on the surfaces of both the thin Pt layers and the 3-atom nanoparticles supported on alumina substrates. This enhanced binding can possibly lead to more reactive catalysts. Further calculations on reaction products are needed to determine the effectiveness of these new systems.