Photoluminescence from zinc oxide powder to probe absorption and reaction of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, formic acid, and methanol

Abstract

Photoluminescence was used to probe adsorption and reaction phenomena on a zinc oxide surface of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methanol, formic acid, and acetic acid. At 10{sup -6} Torr evacuation, hydrogen and carbon monoxide adsorption was completely reversible; oxygen, partly so; and methanol, formic acid, and acetic acid were irreversible. Formic acid dissociation and methanol oxidation created intermediates that caused an increase in visible emissions that may be related to the creation of oxygen vacancies. 57 refs., 10 figs.