Controlling reaction selectivity in the oxidation of methanol at Cu(110) surfaces

When deuterated methanol (CD3OH) and dioxygen mixtures are coadsorbed at Cu(110) surfaces at room temperature and above, the main reaction product can be switched between formaldehyde and formate by changing the mixture composition. For oxygen-rich mixtures formaldehyde is the major product but when methanol is in 5:1 excess only formate is produced. It is proposed that the reaction mechanism is controlled by the microscopic structure of the surface: when the reactants are adsorbed sequentially, separate islands of oxygen and methoxy develop which inhibit further oxidation but when reactants are coadsorbed a homogeneous mixture of adsorbates is produced creating a facile pathway to formate.