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Characterization of Reaction Intermediates and Adsorbate Interactions on the Ru(001) Surface

Citation

Hills, Malina Manon (1987) Characterization of Reaction Intermediates and Adsorbate Interactions on the Ru(001) Surface. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/7afx-0m86. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03032008-141343

Abstract

The adsorption and reaction of ethylene and methylamine on the Ru(001) surface have been investigated in order to characterize reaction intermediates and adsorbate interactions. Experiments were conducted under ultrahigh vacuum conditions using electron energy loss spectroscopy and thermal desorption mass spectrometry. Molecularly chemisorbed ethylene is di-σ-bonded and the carbon atoms of the ethylene are rehybridized to sp3. Upon annealing to room temperature, ethylene forms ethylidyne (CCH3) and acetylide (CCH) via unstable η2-CHCH2 and η2-CCH2 intermediates. These species decompose below 400 K to carbon adatoms and methylidyne (CH) with concurrent evolution of hydrogen.

The interactions of ethylene and its decomposition intermediates with hydrogen and also with carbon monoxide have been explored. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide reduce the adsorption and decomposition of ethylene by blocking adsites. Neither coadsorbed hydrogen nor carbon monoxide alter the identities of the decomposition intermediates, although the selectivity of the reaction is altered. Thus on the clean, hydrogen-precovered and carbon monoxide-precovered Ru(001) surfaces, ethylene tends to decompose via sp3-hybridized, η2-bonded intermediates.

Oxygen overlayers perturb the electronic structure of the Ru(001) surface, changing both the bonding of coadsorbates and the decomposition intermediates. For example, ethylene adsorbed molecularly on the Ru(001)-p(2x2)O surface is sp2-hybridized and π-bonded. This ethylene dehydrogenates to ethylidyne which forms vinylidene (CCH2). The vinylidene is coordinated to the surface via one carbon atom with π-electron donation from the carbon-carbon double bond to the surface occurring. Thus the presence of oxygen changes the nature of the molecularly adsorbed ethylene and the decomposition intermediates, favoring sp2-hybridized, η1-bonded adspecies. This result holds also for adspecies such as acetylene, acetone and formaldehyde and is discussed using the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model.

Methylamine adsorbed on the Ru(001) surface is coordinated through the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom. This species dehydrogenates to a CH2NH2 intermediate at 300 K, that dehydrogenates to CHNH2 upon annealing to 350 K. The lone pair of electrons, previously located on the nitrogen, are delocalized over the ruthenium-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds of CHNH2. This species decomposes below 400 K via two competing pathways, forming carbon adatoms and ammonia or dehydrogenating to side-on bonded C=N with concurrent evolution of hydrogen.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Chemical Engineering
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemical Engineering
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Weinberg, William Henry
Thesis Committee:
  • Weinstein, Alan Jay (chair)
  • Bercaw, John E.
  • Grubbs, Robert H.
  • Beauchamp, Jesse L.
  • Weinberg, William Henry
Defense Date:12 January 1987
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-03032008-141343
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03032008-141343
DOI:10.7907/7afx-0m86
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00273a002DOIArticle adapted for Chapter II.
https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00236a056DOIArticle adapted for Chapter IV.
https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00273a003DOIArticle adapted for Appendix 1.
https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00235a012DOIArticle adapted for Appendix 2.
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:855
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:03 Mar 2008
Last Modified:26 Oct 2021 18:41

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