The effects of a potassium overlayer on the reaction pathway of CH2 and C2H5 on Rh(111)

The effect of potassium on the reaction pathways of adsorbed CH2 and C2H5 S pecies on Rh(111) was investigated by means of reflection absorption infrar ed spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature programmed desorption (TDS). Hydroc arbon fragments were produced by thermal and photo-induced dissociation of the corresponding iodo compounds, potassium adatoms markedly stabilized the adsorbed CH2 and converted it into C2H4 the formation of which was not obs erved for K-free Rh(111). New routes of the surface reactions of C2H5 have been also opened in the presence of potassium, namely its transformation in to butane and butene.