Charge transfer in the presence of dopants is relevant for the adorption and activation of small molecules, such as O2 . Scanning tunneling microscopy and DFT calculations provide evidence for the formation of strongly bound superoxo species on chemically inert, Mo-doped CaO films. This oxygen surface species shows a high propensity to dissociate. Dopants could also be important for the activation of hydrocarbons on inert oxides.
Keywords: dopants; heterogeneous catalysis; oxidation; oxygen activation; surface chemistry.
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