Idriss, H. (2022)

Chem Catalysis, 2022, 2, 7, 1549-1560

Abstract

Surface and subsurface oxygen vacancies play a crucial role in catalysis. Their formation requires considerable energy, which is mostly provided by reducing chemical compounds such as CO or hydrocarbons in catalytic oxidation and water gas shift reactions. This article covers three main points related to oxygen vacancies in catalysis by metal oxides: their formation, their stability, and the way their effect can be studied. Most of the information given is from spectroscopic and computation results on well-defined oxides and metal-metal oxides interfaces. The intention is to share these results with researchers working on applied systems such as water splitting to H2 and O2 and CO2 reduction to CO. An emphasis on the catalytic cycle is considered because their role in photo- and photo-electrocatalytic reactions, in these two sought-after reactions, has been invoked recently. Deviation from the catalytic cycle would result in materials instability owing to corrosion, driven by system thermodynamics.

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