How Do Non-Stoichiometric Compounds Enhance Catalytic Activity?
The presence of structural defects such as oxygen vacancies and interstitials in non-stoichiometric compounds creates active sites that are essential for catalytic reactions. These defects can facilitate the adsorption and activation of reactant molecules, thereby lowering the activation energy and increasing the rate of reaction. For example, oxygen vacancies in CeO2-x enhance its ability to participate in oxidation-reduction cycles, making it highly effective in catalytic converters for automobile exhaust treatment.
