Oxidation and hydrogenation of Pd: suppression of oxidation by prolonged H2 exposure

Abstract

We investigate the phase transition of a Pd surface in both oxidizing and reducing environments by environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM). ETEM allows us to study sequential exposure of Pd to O₂ and H₂ in the same TEM conditions. First, under ETEM observation, oxidation occurs at step edges but it can also occur at terraces. Second, as the most important result, we observed a novel process where previous exposure to H₂ suppresses new oxidation of the Pd surface. Third, we show by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) that this process, suppression of oxidation by previous exposure to H₂, is not due to the formation of bulk β-phase Pd hydride. We also demonstrate that this process is not present in Pt. Finally, we discuss the hypothesis to explain this phenomenon: formation of surface–Pd–hydride suppresses the new oxidation. This observation, suppression of oxidation by H₂ exposure, may eventually lead to new breakthroughs.