The kinetics of D2 desorption from Ni(110) (2 × 1)C in the presence of reactive intermediates

A kinetic study of D₂ formation from HCOOD decomposition on Ni(110) (2 × 1)C was performed using the flash desorption technique. The surface structure and surface composition were monitored by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Flash curves were obtained using initial coverage and heating rate variations. D₂ formation exhibited a single second-order rate-determining step. Three different techniques were employed in obtaining the activation energy, two of which did not require the assumption of reaction order. Using an average value of 12.6 kcal/mole for the activation energy the pre-exponential factor was calculated to be 2.7 × 10^?4 cm² molecules^?1 sec^?1. Good agreement was achieved with the theoretically generated second-order flash curves only up to the peak temperature. The discrepancy on the high temperature side was explained using the model proposed by Clavenna and Schmidt utilizing a coverage dependent pre-exponential factor.     

Selectivity Control in Gold‐Mediated Esterification of Methanol

The Midas touch : The low‐temperature transformation of methanol to methyl formate, formaldehyde, and formic acid is promoted by atomic oxygen adsorbed on metallic gold (see picture). The reactions occur with O‐containing Au nanoparticles formed on Au(111) upon oxidation with ozone at 200 K; the facile esterification to methyl formate occurs well below room temperature.

     

Ag/Au Mixed Sites Promote Oxidative Coupling of Methanol on the Alloy Surface

Nanoporous gold, a dilute alloy of Ag in Au, activates molecular oxygen and promotes the oxygen‐assisted catalytic coupling of methanol. Because this trace amount of Ag inherent to nanoporous gold has been proposed as the source of oxygen activation, a thin film Ag/Au alloy surface was studied as a model system for probing the origin of this reactivity. Thin alloy layers of Ag_xAu_1?x, with 0.15≤x≤0.40, were examined for dioxygen activation and methanol self‐coupling. These alloy surfaces recombine atomic oxygen at different temperatures depending on the alloy composition. Total conversion of methanol to selective oxidation products, that is, formaldehyde and methyl formate, was achieved at low initial oxygen coverage and at low temperature. Reaction channels for methyl formate formation occurred on both Au and Au/Ag mixed sites with a ratio, as was predicted from the local 2‐dimensional composition.