Chemisorption of Carbon Monoxide on Gold

Reaction of carbon monoxide with gaseous gold clusters1 

Many experimental studies are accompanied by DFT calculations several papers report results of such calculations without the benefit of supporting experimental evidence.10,58,59 

Mono- and di-carbonyls have been formed at the surface of a gold field-emitter tip at room temperature in the presence of an electric field 60 they could be field-desorbed to give gaseous cations carrying one or two charges. The driving force for these reactions was thought to be the local positive 

Chemisorption of carbon monoxide on massive gold surfaces123 

Recognition of the easier chemisorption of carbon monoxide on atoms of low CN as indicated by its preference for rough films formed at low temperature led to a study of the stepped Au(332) surface,63 although even here desorption was complete when temperature was raised to ambient. The use of isotopically labelled molecules showed that the IR band at 2120 cm-1 contained four components, although TPD revealed only two. The band at 2120 cm-1 red shifted, and the surface potential increased linearly, with increasing coverage. 

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We may conclude that the chemisorption of carbon monoxide on gold surfaces is generally somewhat weak it cannot for example lift the reconstruction of the Au(110)(l x 2) surface to restore the normal (1 x 1) phase.61 It prefers atoms of low CN and it desorbs below room temperature. Nevertheless, under the appropriate conditions considerable information can be obtained about its adsorbed state. 

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