Reactions of methanol on rhodium(111) and rhodium(111)-(2.times.2)oxygen surfaces: Spectroscopic identification of adsorbed methoxide and .eta.1-formaldehyde

Abstract

The reactions of methanol were examined on clean and oxygen-predosed Rh(111) surfaces under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. Methoxy intermediates were formed at 140 K after methanol adsorption on the clean surface at 100 K. High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) indicated that these methoxides began to decompose to CO and H 2 at 210 K. The addition of one-quarter monolayer of oxygen to the surface produced two principal effects on the reactions on the Rh(111) surface