TPD AND HREELS INVESTIGATION OF THE REACTION OF FORMIC-ACID ON ZRO2(100)

The reaction of formic acid on the (100) surface of yttria-stabilized zirconia was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Formic acid adsorbed molecularly at temperatures below 200 K and dissociated upon heating to room temperature to produce adsorbed formate and hydroxyl. Dehydration to CO was the primary pathway for decomposition of adsorbed formates. In addition to the dehydration pathway, a fraction of the adsorbed formates underwent dehydrogenation to CO2. Formaldehyde was also detected as a minor product. The influence of surface oxygen defects on the kinetics of formate decomposition was evaluated by comparing TPD results from oxygen-annealed and sputtered surfaces.