DEHYDRATION AND DEHYDROGENATION OF ETHANOL AND 1-PROPANOL ON THE POLAR SURFACES OF ZINC-OXIDE Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The reactions of ethanol and 1-propanol on the (0001)-Zn and (0001̄)-O polar surfaces of zinc oxide were investigated by means of TPD and XPS. On the (0001)-Zn surface the alcohols adsorbed dissociatively to form alkoxide intermediates which decomposed during TPD to form net dehydration and/or net dehydrogenation products. In parallel with these dehydration and dehydrogenation pathways, surface alkoxides were oxidized by lattice oxygen to produce adsorbed carboxylates. Oxidation of alkoxides proceeded via dioxyalkylidene (RCHO2) intermediates and, like the oxidation of aldehydes on this surface, resulted in the formation of both formate and higher carboxylate species. In contrast to the (0001)-Zn surface, the (0001̄)-O surface was found to be unreactive toward these alcohols; only molecular adsorption occurred on this surface. 1989.

published proceedings

  • SURFACE SCIENCE

author list (cited authors)

  • VOHS, J. M., & BARTEAU, M. A.

citation count

  • 92

complete list of authors

  • VOHS, JM||BARTEAU, MA

publication date

  • November 1989