Partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde on a model supported monolayer vanadia catalyst: vanadia on TiO2(1 1 0)

Vanadia adlayers of different coverage were prepared on TiO2(1 1 0) by codosing VOCl3 and water. These surfaces and the partial oxidation of methanol on these surfaces were studied by X-ray photoelectron spetroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy. With increasing coverage of vanadia the rate of methoxy dehydrogenation to formaldehyde increased until reaching the highest activity at monolayer coverage. The V–O–Ti bond and the oxidation state of the vanadium cation play an important role in the oxidation process. The mechanism of methanol oxidation is discussed.