Mechanism and kinetics of the NOCO reaction on Rh

During the past 15 years, the NOCO reaction on Rh has attracted considerable attention of the researchers working in academic and applied surface science. The practical importance of this reaction is connected with its relevance for environmental chemistry. From the point of view of academic studies, the NOCO reaction on Rh is of interest because it represents one of the simplest examples from the class of catalytic reactions occurring via decomposition of adsorbed species. At present, the detailed kinetic data for this reaction are available both for single-crystal and supported Rh, at ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions and also at realistic pressures. For this reason, the NOCO reaction on Rh has become one of the major testing platforms for a microscopic, surface-science based approach to heterogeneous catalysis. The present review shows how far the progress in this field has come. In particular, the review describes in detail the evolution of the ideas for the mechanism of the reaction and also presents the data for the elementary reaction steps, obtained primarily on Rh(1 1 1) at UHV conditions. Then, the possibility of using these data for simulation of the reaction kinetics at moderate pressures, PNO ⋍ PCO ⋍ 0.01 bar, is discussed. The technological aspects of application of Rh in the automotive exhaust systems are surveyed as well, but only briefly.