Low Temperature Multilayer Adsorption of Methanol and Ethanol on Platinum

Abstract

Adsorption of methanol and ethanol on the clean Pt (111) surface was studied at temperatures between 80 and 130 K using polarization–modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). It was shown that adsorption of methanol at 80 K leads to the formation of amorphous solid methanol, and fast crystallization of the amorphous phase occurs upon warming at 100 K. Vapor deposition of methanol at 100 K directly leads to the formation of well-crystallized layers of solid methanol. According to PM-IRRAS, these crystalline layers consist of chains of hydrogen-bonded methanol molecules lying in a plane oriented close to the normal to the platinum surface. Adsorbed methanol is removed completely from platinum after heating to 120 K. Vapor deposition of ethanol at 80 K also leads to the formation of amorphous solid ethanol. However, subsequent warming does not lead to ordering of the adsorption layers, and at 130 K, ethanol is also completely desorbed.

Graphical Abstract