Investigation of NO interaction on Rh/doped TiO2-based automotive catalyst using combined transient diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared and mass spectrometry

The interaction of NO with Rh supported on W+6 doped TiO2 has been investigated by coupling transient diffuse reflectance Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The experiments were carried out in dynamic conditions (under reactant flow and at temperature reaction) at atmospheric pressure. By comparing the results obtained with undoped Rh/TiO2 and Rh/TiO2(W6+) catalysts, the analytical approach used permitted to emphasis the effect of carrier doping, with respect to the elementary steps and surface intermediates involved in NO interaction process. It was found that W6+-doping of TiO2 promotes significantly the formation of Rh-NO- species and enhances the thermal stability of Rh-NO+ on Rh/TiO2 (W6+) surfaces. This leads to a drastic increase in the selectivity of NO decomposition reaction towards N-2 formation, whereas the N2O yield decreases significantly.