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Adsorption of atomic hydrogen on alumina by hydrogen spillover

Journal Article · · J. Catal.; (United States)

Thermal desorption peaks were obtained of hydrogen adsorbed under various conditions on alumina, 1Vertical Bar3< platinum on alumina (A), 0.5Vertical Bar3< platinum on alumina (B), 1Vertical Bar3< nickel on alumina (C), and platinum foil. All samples desorbed hydrogen as a large or two unresolved peaks at approx. 130/sup 0/C attributed to dissociatively adsorbed H/sub 2/. Hydrogen adsorbed at 710 mm Hg and 400/sup 0/C on A or C desorbed at approx. 460/sup 0/C as well as at approx. 130/sup 0/C. Alumina in contact with atomic hydrogen generated in an electric discharge showed only the 460/sup 0/C desorption peak, which suggests that this peak is due to spillover hydrogen. Further experiments revealed that hydrogen spillover occurs by fast dissociative adsorption on platinum, fast spillover over the phase boundary, and rate-limiting diffusion on alumina. The saturation coverage of atomic hydrogen at 400/sup 0/C and 710 mm Hg was 1.44 trillion/sq cm on A and 2.2 trillion/sq cm on B, and the activation energy of diffusion was 28 kcal/mole on A and 29 kcal/mole on B; this indicates that the active site density is low compared with the number of possible surface hydroxyl groups, but that the sites hold the atomic hydrogen very strongly.

Research Organization:
University of Innsbruck
OSTI ID:
7141319
Journal Information:
J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 58:2; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English