Effect of the titanium oxide stoichiometry on the efficiency of CO oxidation on the Au/TiOx system surface

Infrared reflection absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies are u sed to show that the process of carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation can occur on the surface of a system formed during the appearance of gold clusters on t he surface of a titanium oxide layer cooled below room temperature. The eff iciency of this process is significantly affected by stoichiometry of the t itanium oxide layer. The use of a TiOx substrate with the stoichiometry dif ferent from TiO2 results in more effective CO oxidation in comparison with the process observed in the Au/TiO2 system. An important role in the oxidat ion process is played by the gold-oxide interface. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka / I nterperiodica".