ADSORPTION AND DECOMPOSITION OF METHANOL ON ALUMINUM

The adsorption and thermal decomposition of CH//3OH on clean polycrystalline Al has been studied using UPS, XPS, and thermal desorption techniques in the temperature range 110-773 K. Molecular adsorption of CH//3OH occurs at 110 K; heating leads to a surface intermediate at similar 150 K which persists until 525 K. Beginning at 525 K CH//4, CO, CO//2, and H//2 are evolved and by 773 K the surface is oxidized. The nature of the surface intermediate is discussed.