Gasification of surface carbon by H 2O on Fe(100)

Abstract

The gasification of surface carbon by water on Fe(100) was studied by flash desorption spectroscopy. The iron surface was carburized by adsorbing ethylene and heating. Water was adsorbed at 190 K. The reaction products were H 2 and CO. Two pathways to CO formation were present. One involved the reaction of adsorbed carbon and oxygen atoms at 800 K and the other led to the direct formation of molecular CO at low temperatures (300 to 400 K).