A new approach to active supported Au catalysts

In this article we attempted to review the key issues relevant to tremendou s oxidation activity of supported Au catalysts. We described in detail newl y developed Au catalysts, remarkably active for low-temperature CO oxidatio n, using Au phosphine complexes and clusters as precursors for gold metal p articles and as-precipitated wet metal hydroxides as precursors for oxide s upports. Particular attention was placed on chemical interaction of the Au complexes and clusters with the oxide surfaces and its critical role in pre paration of tremendously active supported Au. Simultaneous transformations of both the gold and support precursors during temperature-programmed calci nation provoked the formation of Au catalysts highly active for the low-tem perature CO oxidation. A new aspect of CO oxidation mechanisms was also dis cussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.