The electrophilicity of surface carbon species in the redox of CuO‐CeO2 catalysts

Electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) describes the electron flow between metal sites and a metal oxide support. It is generally used to follow the mechanism of redox reactions. In the study of CuO-CeO2 redox, an additional flow of electron from metallic Cu to surface carbon species is observed via a combination of operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, near ambient pressure-near edge X-ray absorption fine structure, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. An electronic metal-support-carbon interaction (EMSCI) is proposed to explain the reaction pathway of CO oxidation. The EMSCI provides a complete picture of the mass and electron flow, which will help predict and improve the catalytic performance in the selective activation of CO2 , carbonate or carbonyl species in C1 chemistry.