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Science 10 August 1973:
Vol. 181. no. 4099, pp. 547 - 549
DOI: 10.1126/science.181.4099.547
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Articles

Platinum-Like Behavior of Tungsten Carbide in Surface Catalysis

R. B. Levy 1 and M. Boudart 1

1 Stauffer Laboratories of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305

Tungsten carbide catalyzes the formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen at room temperature, the reduction of tungsten trioxide by hydrogen in the presence of water, and the isomerization of 2,2-dimethylpropane to 2-methylbutane. This catalytic behavior, which is typical of platinum, is not exhibited at all by tungsten. The surface electronic properties of the latter are therefore modified by carbon in such a way that they resemble those of platinum.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Electronic and catalytic properties of tungsten carbide.
L. Bennett, Cuthill JR, A. McAlister, N. Erickson, and R. Watson (1975)
Science 187, 858-859
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Surface Electronic Properties of Tungsten, Tungsten Carbide, and Platinum.
J. E. Houston, G. E. Laramore, and R. L. Park (1974)
Science 185, 258-260
   Abstract »    PDF »
Electronic Structure and Catalytic Behavior of Tungsten Carbide.
L. H. Bennett, J. R. Cuthill, A. J. McAlister, N. E. Erickson, and R. E. Watson (1974)
Science 184, 563-565
   Abstract »    PDF »


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