Examples of elementary processes in heterogeneous catalytic reactions on metal oxides

Examples of Elementary Processes in Heterogeneous Catalytic Reactions on Metal Oxides 

In this Section, we consider examples of application of semiconductor sensors in investigation of heterogeneous catalytic reactions of dehydration of isopropyl alcohol and dissociation of hydrosine on zinc oxide. 

Further investigations of the above discussed effects show that, at fixed temperature of the oxide film (catalyst), the jump in the electric conductivity first increases in amplitude, as the portion of alcohol vapor admitted into the vessel increases. On further increase of the admitted portion of alcohol, the jump amplitude reduces (starting with the pressure of 3.6-10 2 Torr). At the pressure of 3.2-10 Torr, the jump in the electric conductivity of the zinc oxide film is less pronounced. Finally, at still higher pressures, it disappears (Fig.4.9). This effect is not unexpected. On our mind, it is associated with the fact that, as the concentration of alcohol vapor increases, the sum of the rate of interaction of the vapor with adsorbed hydrogen atoms and the rate of surface recombination of hydrogen atoms at the time instant of production becomes higher than the chemisorption rate of these atoms. The latter is responsible for the increase of the electric conductivity of the semiconductor oxide film via the reaction 

In conclusion, we note that the appearance of hydrogen atoms in the gas volume in catalytic reaction of dehydration of alcohol at low pressures observed in [25] by the sensor technique confirms that dehydration of alcohol on the surface of the zinc oxide catalyzer yields hydrogen atoms. In other words, this heterogeneous reaction does not result in production of hydrogen molecules through the process 

The considered reaction yields hydrogen atoms, which subsequently recombine into molecules. 

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