Mechanistic Studies of Hydrocarbon Combustion and Synthesis on Noble Metals

Common staging point: Results of DFT studies on surface-catalyzed processes indicate that oxymethylidyne species (CHO) are intermediates in both the combustion and the synthesis of hydrocarbons on noble-metal surfaces (the picture shows CHO formation on Pd). Combustion and synthesis proceed by very similar pathways, but in opposite directions, even though different metals are used in the two processes.