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Title: Hydrogenation of CO to Methanol on Ni(110) through Subsurface Hydrogen

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b09914· OSTI ID:1413067

We present a combined theoretical and experimental study of CO hydrogenation on a Ni(110) surface, including studies of the role of gas-phase atomic hydrogen, surface hydrogen, and subsurface hydrogen reacting with adsorbed CO. Reaction mechanisms leading both to methane and methanol are considered. In the reaction involving surface or subsurface hydrogen, we investigate four possible pathways, using density functional theory to characterize the relative energetics of each intermediate, including the importance of further hydrogenation versus C-O bond breaking, where the latter may lead to methane production. The most energetically favorable outcome is the production of methanol along a pathway involving the sequential hydrogenation of CO to a H3CO* intermediate, followed by a final hydrogenation to give methanol. In addition, we find that subsurface hydrogen noticeably alters reaction barriers, both passively and through the energy released by diffusion to the surface. Indeed, the effective reaction barriers are even lower than for CO methanolation on Cu(211) and Cu(111) than for Ni(110). In studies of gas-phase H atoms impinging on a CO-adsorbed Ni(110) surface, Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations show that direct impact of H is unlikely to result in hydrogenation of CO. This means that Eley-Rideal or hot-atom mechanisms are not important; thus, thermal reactions involving subsurface hydrogen are the primary reaction mechanisms leading to methanol. Finally, we demonstrate experimentally for the first time the production of methanol and formaldehyde from CO hydrogenation on Ni(110) and confirm the role of subsurface hydrogen in the mechanism of this reaction.

Research Organization:
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-03ER15457
OSTI ID:
1413067
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1529566
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 139 Journal Issue: 48; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 34 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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