Thermal reactions of mercaptoethanol on Cu(1 0 0)

Reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature-programmed reaction/desorption (TPR/D) have been employed to investigate the thermal decomposition of HSCH2CH2OH on Cu(1 0 0) and the surface intermediates involved. The surface reactions of HSCH2CH2OH proceed via several stages in sequence, including production of surface intermediates of –SCH2CH2OH, –SCH2CH2O–, and the species possibly containing >CCO or >CCS. Carbon-containing products of CH4, C2H4, and CH3CHO evolve between 300 and 500 K and C2H4 is the major product. Desorption of sulfur-containing products is not observed. HSCH2CH2OH dissociates on Cu(1 0 0) and oxygen-precovered Cu(1 0 0) to form –SCH2CH2OH at dosing temperature of 115 K. However –SCH2CH2O– and the species containing >CCO or >CCS are generated at lower temperatures on oxygen-precovered Cu(1 0 0). C2H4 is also the major desorption product from HSCH2CH2OH on oxygen-precovered Cu(1 0 0).