Density functional studies of methanol decomposition on subnanometer Pd clusters.
A density functional theory study of the decomposition of methanol on subnanometer palladium clusters (primarily Pd{sub 4}) is presented. Methanol dehydrogenation through C-H bond breaking to form hydroxymethyl (CH{sub 2}OH) as the initial step, followed by steps involving formation of hydroxymethylene (CHOH), formyl (CHO), and carbon monoxide (CO), is found to be the most favorable reaction pathway. A competing dehydrogenation pathway with O-H bond breaking as the first step, followed by formation of methoxy (CH{sub 3}O) and formaldehyde (CH{sub 2}O), is slightly less favorable. In contrast, pathways involving C-O bond cleavage are much less energetically favorable, and no feasible pathways involving C-O bond formation to yield dimethyl ether (CH{sub 3}OCH{sub 3}) are found. Comparisons of the results are made with methanol decomposition products adsorbed on more extended Pd surfaces; all reaction intermediates are found to bind slightly more strongly to the clusters than to the surfaces.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- SC
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 977365
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/MSD/JA-65467
- Journal Information:
- J. Phys. Chem. C, Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem. C Journal Issue: 52 ; Dec. 31, 2009 Vol. 113; ISSN 1932-7447
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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