Catalytic oxidation of CO with N2O on isolated copper cluster anions†
Shinichi Hirabayashi,Masahiko Ichihashi
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Pub Date : 07/17/2014 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C4CP01554A
Abstract

A catalytic redox reaction involving N2O and CO on size-selected copper cluster anions, Cun, was investigated in the gas phase using a guided ion-beam tandem mass spectrometer. When Cun is exposed to a mixture of N2O and CO, CunO is produced via the decomposition of N2O. Increase of the CO partial pressure results in the reproduction of Cun and decrease of CunO through the oxidation of CO. The present results demonstrate that a full catalytic cycle for the reaction, N2O + CO → N2 + CO2, takes place on copper cluster anions. Furthermore, in the investigations of the elementary reactions of Cun + N2O and CunO + CO, we found that the catalytic oxidation of CO with N2O on Cun proceeds most efficiently at n = 7 in the size range of n = 5–16.

Graphical abstract: Catalytic oxidation of CO with N2O on isolated copper cluster anions