Infrared study of CO adsorption on Pt–Rh/SiO2 catalysts
Abstract
Infrared spectra are reported of CO adsorbed on Pt/SiO2, Rh/SiO2 and Pt–Rh/SiO2 in the temperature ranges 93–300 and 303–573 K. CO adsorption as a function of time was studied for high-temperature reduced samples (973 K). The influence of platinum was to decrease the rate at which the rhodium gem-dicarbonyl species was formed and to increase the rate at which metal clusters were reformed. Coupling effects between Pt–CO and Rh–CO at low temperatures indicate that crystallites exist containing well mixed surface layers of platinum and rhodium atoms. The effect of platinum on rhodium particle morphology is discussed.