Interaction of methanol with ruthenium

The interaction of methanol with a clean (110) ruthenium surface has been studied using temperature programmed desorption methods. Methanol dissociates upon adsorption at 300 K and yields H2(g) and chemisorbed CO as the dominant products. Randomization of evolved hydrogen was shown to occur during methanol adsorption and also upon subsequent thermal desorption using isotopically labeled methanol, CH3OD. In addition to hydrogen and CO, small amounts of H2CO, CH3OH, CO2, and H2O, are also observed upon thermal desorption. In contrast with a previous study of formaldehyde on Ru(110), no detectable CH4 product is found upon methanol desorption. (Auth.)