Single Atoms on Oxide Surfaces

F centers can act as nanocatalysts, however few reactions are catalyzed by oxygen vacancies because only two confined electrons at the same energy level are present. In order to change these two parameters (number of confined electrons and energy levels) without modifying the size of the quantum box, the F center can be decorated with metal atoms to produce a third kind of nanocatalyst supported atoms on oxide surfaces. 

To characterize the model catalysts in detail it is, however, necessary to identify the adsorption sites of the clusters. One possibility is to study the adsorption of probe molecules on the deposited clusters by means of thermal desorption (TDS) 

After characterizing this type of nanocatalyst consisting of metal atoms trapped on oxygen vacancies, simple reactions like acetylene polymerization or CO oxidation can be studied by means of temperature programmed reaction studies and infrared spectroscopy. 

The electronic structure of palladium atoms, 4d 5s , is unique and may be responsible for this specific catalytic property for the acetylene cyclotrimerization. 

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