Oxidation of NO on Pt/M (M = Pt, Co, Fe, Mn): a first-principles density functional theory study
Abstract
Platinum is commonly used as a catalyst for the oxidation of NO in exhaust gas purification systems. However, in addition to its high cost, the intrinsic NO + O → NO2 reaction is endothermic and the rate-limiting O2,gas dissociative adsorption is activated on Pt(111). In this paper, we show for the first time that the pseudomorphic Pt monolayer on 3d transition metals promotes a thermodynamically and kinetically favorable NO oxidation compared to pure Pt. Using density functional theory-based first principles calculations, we show that such results are attributed to the weaker binding of O and NO on the bimetallic surfaces and the change of the binding configuration of NO2 into a structure that promotes easier N–O bond formation. These results provide insights into the design of low-cost and efficient catalysts for NO oxidation.