Surface chemistry of Cu in the presence of CO2 and H2O

Thechemical nature of copper and copper oxide (Cu2O) surfaces in the presence of CO2 and H2O at room temperature was investigated using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The studies reveal that in the presence of 0.1 torr CO2 several species form on the initially clean Cu, including carbonate CO32-, CO2 delta- and C-0, while no modifications occur on an oxidized Surface. The addition of 0.1 ML Zn to the Cu results in the complete conversion of CO2 delta- to carbonate. In a mixture of 0.1 torr H2O and 0.1 torr CO2, new species are formed, including hydroxyl, formate and methoxy. with H2O providing the hydrogen needed for the formation of hydrogenated species.