Distinct reaction mechanisms in the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxideon Rh(110): Scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory studies - art. no. 196104

By means of scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and density function al theory calculations, we identify the reaction mechanism for the oxidatio n of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide on the Rh(110) surface at 160 K, whi ch appears to be completely different than the one active at room temperatu re. The reasons for these different behaviors are determined. Our results d emonstrate 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.