Distinct reaction mechanisms in the catalytic oxidation of carbon
monoxide on Rh(110): an STM and DFT study

Distinct reaction mechanisms in the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide on Rh(110): an STM and DFT study
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by C. Castellarin Cudia, Saw Wai Hla, G. Comelli, Z. Sljivancanin, B.
Hammer, A. Baraldi, K. C. Prince, R. Rosei.

Phys. Rev. Lett. **87**, 196104 (2001).

Abstract
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By means of scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and density
functional theory calculations, we identify the reaction mechanism for
the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide on the Rh(110)
surface at 160 K, which appears to be completely different than the one
active at room temperature. The reason for these different behaviors are
determined. Our results demonstrate that even for a very simple
catalytic reaction, the microscopic mechanism can dramatically change
with temperature, following pathways that differ for nucleation sites
and surface propagation and involve different surface moieties.