Energetics of elementary reaction steps relevant for CO oxidation: CO and O2 adsorption on model Pd nanoparticles and Pd(111).

The energetics of elementary surface processes relevant for CO oxidation, particularly CO and 02 adsorption, were investigated by a direct calorimetric method on model Pd nanoparticles and on the extended Pd(111) single crystal surface. The focus of this study lies on a detailed understanding of how a nanometer scale confinement of matter affects the binding strength of gaseous adsorbates. We report adsorption energies and sticking coefficients of CO and 02 measured as a function of the adsorbate surface coverage both on pristine and O-covered Pd surfaces.