<p>We show for the first
time that single positively-charged Rh atoms on ceria, prepared via
high-temperature atom trapping synthesis, are the highly active species for
(CO+NO) reaction both under dry and wet, industrial conditions. This provides a
direct link between organometallic homogeneous Rh(I) complexes capable of
catalyzing dry (CO+NO) reaction and supported Rh single atoms, the latter being
much more active than their homogeneous analogues. Decreasing the Rh loading
from to 0.1 wt% leads to a catalyst with uniform Rh ions on the surface of
ceria, which is very active (full NO conversion >120 ⁰C, TOF per Rh atom at 120 ⁰C ~ 330 hr<sup>-1</sup>) and thermodynamically
stable. Under dry conditions, the main product above 100 ⁰C is N<sub>2</sub> with N<sub>2</sub>O being
the minor product. Water promotes low-temperature activity of 0.1 Rh/CeO<sub>2</sub>
starting 50 ⁰C with full NO conversion
above 125 ⁰C in the wet stream. In
this case, however, ammonia and nitrogen are the main products with only minor
N<sub>2</sub>O amounts. NH<sub>3</sub> formation at such relatively low
temperatures is attractive because of the potential to use this as a passive
SCR system. Because of the uniformity of Rh ions on the support, we are able to
clarify the mechanistic aspects of this reaction. More specifically, we show
that ammonia formation correlates with the WGS activity of the material and
thus, rhodium hydride Rh-H species are believed to be involved in this reaction.
These findings provide new mechanistic understanding for the catalytically
active species in TWC catalysis and open up a new avenue for the synthesis of
industrially relevant emissions control catalysts with 100% atom economy of
ultra-expensive precious metals such as Rh.</p>