Photoinduced conversion of carbon dioxide and water molecules to methanol on the surface of molybdenum oxide MoO x (x < 2)

Abstract

X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopic data are used to demonstrate that, when pulsed laser light with a photon energy of 6.4 eV acts on the surface of nonstoichiometric molybdenum oxide MoO x (x < 2), methanol is effectively formed from adsorbed molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The processes in which CO2 and H2O molecules are adsorbed on substrate surface defects and their bonds are activated, enhanced under the effect of photons, should be regarded as the key factors.