Carbon monoxide oxidation on lithium fluoride supported gold nanoparticles: A significance of F-centers

Oxidation of carbon monoxide on ultrasmall Au particles supported on LiF film has been studied by means of vibrational and thermal desorption spectroscopy. It is found that the efficiency of this process is dramatically enhanced when Au is deposited on defect LiF film obtained by electron bombardment to produce Fx−-centers. Local electronic charge of the Fx− center is a key point determining formation of an (C-O-O⁎) intermediate on (Au-Fx−) adsorption site as carbon dioxide precursor.