Experiments
and density functional theory (DFT) models are combined
to develop a unified, quantitative model of the mechanism and kinetics
of fast selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO/NO2 mixtures
over H-SSZ-13 zeolite. Rates, rate orders, and apparent activation
energies collected under differential conditions reveal two distinct
kinetic regimes. First-principles thermodynamics simulations are used
to determine the relative coverages of free Brønsted sites, chemisorbed
NH4
+, and physisorbed NH3 as a function
of reaction conditions. First-principles metadynamics calculations
show that all three sites can contribute to the rate-limiting N–N
bond forming step in fast SCR. The results are used to parametrize
a kinetic model that encompasses the full range of reaction conditions
and recovers observed rate orders and apparent activation energies.
Observed kinetic regimes are related to changes in most-abundant surface
intermediates.