Trapping and oxidation of CO at surface step sites of MgO

Abstract
The interaction between a defect cluster of (MgO)3 and a CO molecule is studied by using the ab initio molecular-orbital method. The calculated energetics demonstrate that the attacking CO can be trapped stably in irregularities such as steps, taking the intermediate form of MgCO3 species. It is proposed that CO oxidation is caused when a low-coordination oxygen ion is removed from the step sites.

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