Carbide-Supported Au Catalysts for Water–Gas Shift Reactions: A New Territory for the Strong Metal–Support Interaction Effect

Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) has been regarded as one of the most important concepts in heterogeneous catalysis, which has been almost exclusively discussed in metal/oxide catalysts. Here, we show that gold/molybdenum carbide (Au/MoC x) catalysts feature highly dispersed Au overlayers, strong interfacial charge transfer between metal and support, and excellent activity in the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction (LT-WGSR), demonstrating the active SMSI state. Subsequent oxidation treatment results in strong aggregation of Au nanoparticles, weak interfacial electronic interaction, and poor LT-WGSR activity. The two interface states can be transformed into each other by alternative carbonization and oxidation treatments. This work reveals the active SMSI effect in metal/carbide catalysts induced by carbonization, which opens a new territory for this important concept.