Surface science studies of strong metal-oxide interactions on model catalysts

Here we report on recent model studies of a phenomenon known in catalysis as the “Strong Metal-Support Interaction” (SMSI for short). Decoration of the surfaces of precious metal single crystals, films, and nanoparticles supported on titania produces beautiful long-range ordered structures which can often be resolved at atomic resolution using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Such surfaces show reduced binding for CO and effectively lower the activity of the surface. Consideration is given to the cause and composition of the surface layer, that is, whether it is a kind of intermetallic layer, or is simply a thin layer of titanium (sub-)oxide