TPD and HREELS investigation of the reaction of formic acid on zirconium dioxide(100)

The reaction of formic acid on the (100) surface of yttria-stabilized zirconia was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Formic acid absorbed molecularly at temperatures below 200 K and dissociated upon heating to room temperature to produce absorbed formate an hydroxyl. Dehydration to CO was the primary pathway for decomposition of absorbed formates. In addition to the dehydration pathway, a fraction of the adsorbed formates underwent dehydrogenation to CO 2 . Formaldehyde was also detected as a minor product