The oxidation of copper and the reactions of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with copper oxide

Abstract

An investigation has been made of the activation of copper by successive oxidation and reduction with hydrogen. Reduction with carbon monoxide causes deactivation of the surface. The heats of adsorption of carbon monoxide and oxygen and the heat liberated during the catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide and oxygen on a cuprous oxide film formed on metallic copper have been measured at room temperature. The kinetics of the reactions have been studied. The electrical conductivity of thin films of oxides has been measured during the reduction with hydrogen, and a study made of the process of embrittlement, whereby the surface is activated. The effect of the adsorption of gases on the conductivity of the Cu2O-CuO surface has been investigated. Oxygen enhances the conductivity and carbon monoxide and hydrogen depress it. The reaction between carbon monoxide and oxygen has been followed at room temperature by conductivity measurements and the results have been employed to interpret the nature of the adsorption, the kinetics of the reaction, and the deactivation of the surface by carbon monoxide.