Ammonia decomposition on Ir(100): From ultrahigh vacuum to elevated pressures

T. V. Choudhary, A. K. Santra, C. Sivadinarayana, B. K. Min, C. W. Yi, K. Davis, D. W. Goodman

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    35 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Ammonia decomposition on Ir(100) has been studied over the pressure range from ultrahigh vacuum to 1.5 Torr and at temperatures ranging from 200 to 800 K. The kinetics of the ammonia decomposition reaction was monitored by total pressure change. The apparent activation energy obtained in this study (84 kJ/mol) is in excellent agreement with our previous studies using supported Ir catalysts (Ir/Al2O3 82 kJ/mol). Partial pressure dependence studies of the reaction rate yielded a positive order (0.9 ± 0.1) with respect to ammonia and negative order (-0.7 ±0.1) with respect to hydrogen. Temperature-programmed desorption data from clean and hydrogen co-adsorbed Ir(100) surfaces indicate that ammonia undergoes facile decomposition on both these surfaces. Recomhinative desorption of N2 is the rate-determining step with a desorption activation energy of ∼63 kJ/mol. Co-adsorption data also indicate that the observed negative order with respect to hydrogen pressure is due to enhancement of the reverse reaction (NHx + H → NHx+1,x = 0-2) in the presence of excess H atoms on the surface.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-5
    Number of pages5
    JournalCatalysis Letters
    Volume77
    Issue number1-3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    We acknowledge with pleasure the support of this work by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences. TVC gratefully acknowledges the Link Foundation for the Link Energy Fellowship.

    Keywords

    • Ammonia
    • CO-free
    • Co-adsorption
    • Decomposition
    • Hydrogen production

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Catalysis
    • General Chemistry

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