XPS revelation of tungsten edges as a potential donor-type catalyst

Abstract

We report an efficient yet simple technology of photoelectron spectroscopic purification for identifying the capability of, and direction of charge flow in, a catalyst in a reaction, which has enabled the finding, for the first time, of the similarity of the valence band of tungsten edges to that of Rh adatoms and Ag/Pd alloy and hence suggested that W undercoordinated atoms could be a suitable candidate for replacing the costly Rh adatoms and Ag/Pd alloy as a cheaper, richer, and efficient donor-type catalyst for CO and NO oxidation applications. The new technology and new findings will be stimulating to the community for new catalyst design and identification and provide a better understanding of the electronic process of a catalytic reaction associated with undercoordinated atoms.