IR study of the adsorption and decomposition of methanol on carbon surfaces and carbon-supported catalysts Original Research Article

Interactions between methanol and the carbon-supported catalysts have been investigated by in situ infrared spectroscopy. The pure, nonoxidized carbon itself is unreactive in decomposition of methanol. FTIR spectra showed that methanol adsorbed molecularly on oxidized carbon surface dissociated upon heating. Methoxy species generated by dissociative methanol adsorbed on oxidized carbon surface decompose to formaldehyde. The methanol decomposition leaves adsorbed methoxide, formaldehyde and CO on the surface of oxidized carbon containing Cu. IR spectroscopic results indicate the difference in the catalytic functions of Cu and Ni in dehydrogenation of methanol.