Importance of the Metal–Oxide Interface in Catalysis: In Situ Studies of the Water–Gas Shift Reaction by Ambient‐Pressure X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Abstract

Where oxide and metals meet: The activation of an efficient associative mechanistic pathway for the water–gas shift reaction by an oxide–metal interface leads to an increase in the catalytic activity of nanoparticles of ceria deposited on Cu(111) or Au(111) by more than an order of magnitude (see graph). In situ experiments demonstrated that a carboxy species formed at the metal–oxide interface is the critical intermediate in the reaction. As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are peer reviewed and may be re-organized for online delivery, but are not copy-edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising from supporting information (other than missing files) should be addressed to the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.