The adsorption and activation of CO molecules on ZrO2 catalysts having low-coordinated surface sites

The adsorption and activation of CO molecules on microcrystalline ZrO2 were investigated by photoluminescence (PL), UV, FT-IR, and ESR measurements. The ZrO2 catalysts degassed at high temperatures exhibited abnormal absorption and photoluminescence associated with the presence of low-coordinated surface sites. The addition of CO molecules onto the pretreated ZrO2 catalysts led to the formation of various CO adsorption species. Moreover, increasing the contact time gave rise to polymeric radical anion species of CO showing that W-irradiation of the ZrO2 catalysts in the presence of CO promoted the formation of these radical anion species of CO.