Valence states of single Au atoms dictate the catalytic activity of Au1/CeO2(100)†
Abstract
We tune the valence state of single Au atoms anchored on CeO2(100) by treating the catalyst in H2 at different temperatures and obtain a series of Au1/CeO2(100). The transition from Au1+0.9 to Au1+0.3 leads to an enhancement of the CO oxidation activity of Au1/CeO2(100) by one order of magnitude. This work is of significance for an in-depth understanding of reaction mechanisms and rational design of high-performance catalysts.