Structure Sensitivity, Selectivity, and Adsorbed Intermediates in the Reactions of Acetone and 2-Propanol on the Polar Surfaces of Zinc Oxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100154a055

The reactions of 2-propanol and acetone on the (0001)-Zn and (000<*>)-O polar surfaces of zinc oxide were investigated by using temperature-programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. 2-Propanol adsorbed dissociatively on the (0001)Zn-surface to form surface isopropoxide ((CH3)2HCO) species.These alkoxide intermediates underwent both dehydration and dehydrogenation reactions to produce propylene and acetone.Acetone dissociated on the (0001)-Zn surface to form enolate intermediates, fingerprinted by a broad envelope in the C(1s) spectrum.These enolates decomposed unselectively above 600 K to deposit carbon, which was oxidized to CO and CO2 at higher temperatures.Neither acetone nor 2-propanol reacted on the oxygen polar surface, and both were adsorbed molecularly and desorbed intact from this surface below 300 K.