Adsorption and photochemistry of CH3CN and CH3CONH2 on powdered TiO2

Abstract

The adsorption and photochemistry of acetonitrile and acetamide on TiO2 have been studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Adsorbed CH3CN, CH3CONH2, η2(N,O)-CH3CONH are formed after CH3CN adsorption on TiO2. The last two species are due to surface hydroxy groups attacking the electron-deficient carbon in the cyano group of the adsorbed acetonitrile. UV exposure causes decomposition of CH3CN(a) to CH2CN(a) and decomposition of CH3CONH2(a) and η2(N,O)-CH3CONH(a) to CH3COO(a), HCOO(a), NCO(a) and CN-containing species on the surface.