Ni₂O₃-Au⁺ hybrid active sites on NiO _x@Au ensembles for low-temperature gas-phase oxidation of alcohols

An interesting ensemble of NiO_x@Au (i.e. 20-30 nm gold particles partially covered with very small NiO_x segments) were clearly identified to be highly active for the low-temperature gas-phase oxidation of alcohols. On such active NiO_x@Au ensembles, large amounts of Ni ₂O₃-Au⁺ hybrid active sites were defined, taking a step closer to identifying the low-temperature activity. By their nature, Ni₂O₃ specimens not only promote the formation of Au⁺ ions and stabilize them but also act as an oxygen supplier to transfer oxygen species onto the Au⁺ sites to react with alcohol.