The Role of F-Centers in Catalysis by Au Supported on MgO.

This article studies the role of F-centers in catalysis by gold (Au) supported on magnesium oxide (MgO). The discovery of the extraordinary activity exhibited by small gold clusters on certain oxide supports has stimulated considerable research to address the origin of this unusual behavior. Treating MgO at temperatures within this range has been shown previously to produce an F-center concentration within the surface region that is proportional to the anneal temperature. The correlation between the change in the catalytic activity of the subsequently deposited Au clusters and the change in the concentration of F-centers in the MgO support is consistent with F-centers playing a direct role in the activation of the Au clusters.