Utilization of the three-dimensional volcano surface to understand the chemistry of multiphase systems in heterogeneous catalysis

Jun Cheng; P Hu

doi:10.1021/ja803555g

Utilization of the three-dimensional volcano surface to understand the chemistry of multiphase systems in heterogeneous catalysis

J Am Chem Soc. 2008 Aug 20;130(33):10868-9. doi: 10.1021/ja803555g. Epub 2008 Jul 24.

Authors

Jun Cheng¹, P Hu

Affiliation

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5AG, UK.

PMID: 18651740
DOI: 10.1021/ja803555g

Abstract

CO hydrogenation is used as a model system to understand why multiphase catalysts are chemically important in heterogeneous catalysis. By including both adsorption and subsequent surface reactions, kinetic equations are derived with two fundamental properties, the chemisorption energies of C and O (DeltaHC and DeltaHO, respectively). By plotting the activity against DeltaHC and DeltaHO, a 3-D volcano surface is obtained. Because of the constraint between DeltaHC and DeltaHO on monophase systems, a maximum can be achieved. However, if multiphase systems are used, such a constraint can be released and the global maximum may be achieved.