Interaction of CO with Cu/ZnO catalyst surfaces prepared in situ in the electron spectrometer: evidence for CO₂⁻ and related species relevant to methanol synthesis

Abstract

Interaction of CO with the Cu/ZnO catalyst surfaces prepared in situ in the sample preparation chamber of the electron spectrometer has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalyst surfaces contained different proportions of Cu¹⁺ and Cu⁰ species. Besides chemisorbed CO, CO₂⁻ and CO₃²⁻ species are found on the catalyst surface, the proportion of CO₂⁻ and CO₃²⁻ species relative to CO increasing with the Cu¹⁺/Cu⁰ ratio. This observation is of significance to methanol synthesis.