Adsorption of methane and ethane on RuO2(110) surfaces

Abstract

The adsorption of methane and ethane on the stoichiometric and O-rich RuO2(110) surfaces, respectively, was studied by thermal desorption and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The results support weak adsorption (physisorption) of these molecules on the surface, regardless of the presence of undercoordinated Ru and oxygen surface sites. The vibrational spectra recorded at about 90 K are compared with spectra calculated for gaseous CH4 and C2H6. The nearly complete agreement of frequencies and relative intensities is consistent with physisorption. No evidence of adsorption induced molecule activation is found. © by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München.