Ys. Wang et al., A HREELS STUDY OF THE ADSORPTION OF FORMIC-ACID ON SLIGHTLY OXIDIZED NB(110) SURFACE, Science in China. Series B, Chemistry, life sciences & earth sciences, 40(1), 1997, pp. 9-14
An investigation has been made on the adsorption and decomposition of
formic acid on slightly oxidized Nb(110) surface (O/Nb atom ratio = 0.
2) using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), a
nd a corresponding surface reaction mode is given. At 140 K, formic ac
id of low exposure on such an Nb(110) surface decomposed to formate, w
hich bonded on Nb in monodentate configuration, simultaneously some fo
rmate decomposed to CO, which adsorbed on the surface. Formic acid mul
tilayers formed when the exposure was high. While the temperature was
increased to above 190 K, multilayer formic acid desorbed, and the sur
face was covered with monodentate-bonded formate and CO. In the temper
ature range of 250-300 K, chemisorbed formate changed from monodentate
configuration into bridging configuration and CO molecules disappeare
d. The decomposition of formate at higher temperatures led to the oxid
ation of Nb. The formate formed in the high exposure case was so stabl
e that it did not decompose even the temperature was as high as 540 K.