The formation of alumina surface active in methanol decomposition and exoemission in thermocycling experiments

The nature of the alumina surface irradiated with electrons active in methanol dehydration was studied by exoemission in comparison with the initial surface. Methanol decomposition and thermal treatment in a vacuum were found to influence the formation of the active surface of the catalyst. Methanol dehydration occurred on centers formed with the participation of low-coordinate surface oxygen, O^δ?, which represented exoemission centers. The desorption of methanol and its decomposition products was accompanied by the emission of negative charges. A possible reaction mechanism is discussed.