Interaction of Gaseous Reagents on Gold and Nickel Nanoparticles

Abstract

The adsorption and interaction of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and oxygen with gold and nickel nanoparticles is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. It is established that the HCO radical is formed on gold nanoparticles by the reaction between adsorbed H₂ and CO, which is subsequently oxidized by oxygen to water and CO₂. At the same time, after exposure to H₂ and CO, nickel nanoparticles coated with oxide are reduced. The formation of adsorbed HCO on such nanoparticles is not observed.