Oxidation of Methanol on Cu(100) Studied by Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

In a study of the oxidation of methanol on Cu(100), the vibrational frequency of the C-O stretch mode of the methoxide is used to monitor the probability for a methanol molecule to react with a surface oxygen atom under different conditions. It is concluded that at least one empty nearest-neighbor adsorption site adjacent to the oxygen atom is necessary for the reaction. As the substrate temperature is raised the reaction probability is strongly reduced, because of an increased mobility of the methoxide molecules.