Operando Observation of Oxygenated Intermediates during CO Hydrogenation on Rh Single Crystals
David Degerman, Mikhail Shipilin, Patrick Lömker, Christopher M. Goodwin, Sabrina M. Gericke, Uta Hejral, Jörgen Gladh, Hsin‐Yi Wang, Christoph Schlueter, Anders Nilsson, Peter Amann
Abstract
The CO hydrogenation reaction over the Rh(111) and (211) surfaces has been investigated operando by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at a pressure of 150 mbar. Observations of the resting state of the catalyst give mechanistic insight into the selectivity of Rh for generating ethanol from CO hydrogenation. This study shows that the Rh(111) surface does not dissociate all CO molecules before hydrogenation of the O and C atoms, which allows methoxy and other both oxygenated and hydrogenated species to be visible in the photoelectron spectra.
Topics & Concepts
ChemistryX-ray photoelectron spectroscopyCatalysisSelectivityMoleculePhotochemistryEthanolSpectral lineRhodiumInorganic chemistryOrganic chemistryChemical engineeringPhysicsEngineeringAstronomyCatalytic Processes in Materials ScienceCatalysts for Methane ReformingAdvanced Chemical Physics Studies