Atomic-layered Au clusters on α-MoC as catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction

Siyu Yao(Peking University), Xiao Zhang(Dalian University of Technology), Wu Zhou(Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Rui Gao(Institute of Coal Chemistry), Wenqian Xu(Brookhaven National Laboratory), Yifan Ye(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Lili Lin(Peking University), Xiaodong Wen(Institute of Coal Chemistry), Ping Liu(Brookhaven National Laboratory), Bingbing Chen(Dalian University of Technology), Ethan J. Crumlin(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Jinghua Guo(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Zhijun Zuo(Taiyuan University of Technology), Weizhen Li(Peking University), Jinglin Xie(Peking University), Li Lu(Lehigh University), Christopher J. Kiely(Lehigh University), Lin Gu(Institute of Physics), Chuan Shi(Dalian University of Technology), José A. Rodríguez(Brookhaven National Laboratory), Ding Ma(Peking University)
Science
July 27, 2017
10.1126/science.aah4321
Cited by 739Open Access
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Abstract

The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction (where carbon monoxide plus water yields dihydrogen and carbon dioxide) is an essential process for hydrogen generation and carbon monoxide removal in various energy-related chemical operations. This equilibrium-limited reaction is favored at a low working temperature. Potential application in fuel cells also requires a WGS catalyst to be highly active, stable, and energy-efficient and to match the working temperature of on-site hydrogen generation and consumption units. We synthesized layered gold (Au) clusters on a molybdenum carbide (α-MoC) substrate to create an interfacial catalyst system for the ultralow-temperature WGS reaction. Water was activated over α-MoC at 303 kelvin, whereas carbon monoxide adsorbed on adjacent Au sites was apt to react with surface hydroxyl groups formed from water splitting, leading to a high WGS activity at low temperatures.

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