New insight on the nature of catalytically active gold sites: quantitative CO chemisorption data and analysis of FTIR spectra of adsorbed CO and of isotopic mixtures

FTIR absorption spectra of CO, of 12CO–13CO isotopic mixtures and of CO–18O2 interaction on gold catalysts supported on group IV oxides are reported together with CO quantitative chemisorption data. On Au/TiO2 two kinds of metallic gold surface sites, mutually interacting, adsorb CO in spite of the low CO/Au ratio (0.03). On Au/ZrO2, where a CO/Au ratio of 0.30 has been determined, mutually interacting corner sites on non-metallic gold nanoclusters are present. Finally, isolated and negatively charged gold nanoclusters have been evidenced on Au/CeO2. Different absorption coefficients have been found. On all samples, by contacting CO–18O2 at 90 K, only C16O18O is produced: gold sites are involved in the activation of both molecules. The largest amount of C16O18O is produced on the CeO2 supported sample, as a consequence of an easier activation of the oxygen on the anionic gold clusters and on the support.