Significance of the Mn-Oxidation state in catalytic and noncatalytic promotional effects of MnOx domains in formic acid dehydrogenation on Pd/MnOx interfaces

Abstract

The influence of MnOx overlayers/nanoclusters deposited on the Pd(111) single-crystal model catalyst surface on the catalytic dehydrogenation of double-deuterated formic acid (FA, DCOOD) was studied under ultrahigh vacuum conditions via temperature-programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. A significant boost in D2 generation was observed in the catalytic FA dehydrogenation on MnOx/Pd(111) as compared to that of a clean Pd(111) model catalyst, demonstrating the cooperative interaction between Pd(111) and MnOx sites. Maximum FA conversion was observed at a submonolayer MnOx surface coverage of 0.25 ML (monolayer) on Pd(111), whereas D2 formation was found to be suppressed when the Pd(111) surface was entirely covered with relatively thick (15 ML) MnOx overlayers. A direct correlation between increasing relative abundance of oxidized Mn surface states (i.e., Mn2+, Mn3+, and Mn4+) and increasing catalytic FA dehydrogenation was observed. Different modes of promotion of FA dehydrogenation via MnOx (i.e., catalytic promotion versus noncatalytic/stoichiometric promotion) were discussed as a function of the differences in the model catalyst preparation and the extent of oxidation of the MnOx overlayer.