Isolated Pd Sites on the Intermetallic PdGa(111) and PdGa(1 11) Model Catalyst Surfaces

Scratching the surface: The high selectivity of PdGa catalysts towards the partial hydrogenation of acetylene was previously attributed to the separation of Pd atomic sites at the surfaces. The atomic structures of PdGa surfaces are determined by means of a combined experimental and computational approach, allowing investigation of the catalytic dissociation of hydrogen. The two opposite (111) and surfaces show a very different arrangement of catalytic centers.