An EELS and TPD study of the adsorption and decomposition of acetic acid on the Al(111) surface

Abstract

The adsorption and decomposition of acetic acid on Al(111) have been studied using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Acetic acid reacts with clean Al(111) at 120 K to form a surface acetate species. The adsorbed acetate bonds to the surface in a symmetric configuration with C s symmetry at 120 K. The adsorption of molecular acetic acid occurs at this temperature only after saturation of the surface acetate layer; this physisorbed multilayer desorbs molecularly at 167 K. Thermal decomposition of the adsorbed acetate leads to a carbon- and oxygen-covered surface; the only detectable thermal decomposition product is H 2. Electron irradiation induces a similar decomposition process of the surface acetate.