Adsorption and decomposition of formic acid on potassium-modified Cu(1 1 0)

Abstract

Adsorption and decomposition of HCOOH on potassium-modified Cu(110) surface has been investigated by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and photoemission. It has been found that preadsorbed potassium enhances deprotonation of HCOOH at low temperatures. Potassium, in coverages up to one monolayer, stabilizes a formate species at 300–450K characterized by photoemission peaks at 5.8, 9.0–9.3, 10.9 and 14.3eV in the HeII spectrum. The tendency to create potassium carbonate species has been found at high temperatures for potassium coverages greater than one monolayer.