Hydrogenation of Formate Species Using Atomic Hydrogen on a Cu(111) Model Catalyst.

The reaction mechanism of the CHOH synthesis by the hydrogenation of CO on Cu catalysts is unclear because of the challenge in experimentally detecting reaction intermediates formed by the hydrogenation of adsorbed formate (HCOO). Thus, the objective of this study is to clarify the reaction mechanism of the CHOH synthesis by establishing the kinetic natures of intermediates formed by the hydrogenation of adsorbed HCOO on Cu(111). We exposed HCOO on Cu(111) to atomic hydrogen at low temperatures of 200-250 K and observed the species using infrared reflection absorption (IRA) spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) studies.