Catalyst chemical state and adsorbed species during methanol conversion on copper using ambient pressure x-ray spectroscopies

Identifying the catalyst for the conversion of hydrogen to methanol (for safe storage) is explored by Professor Rob Weatherup and collaboratators from the Weizmann Institute of Science, University of Manchester, Diamond Light Source and Kingston University London.

In this paper, published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, polycrystalline Cu foils were studied when applying ambient pressure x-ray spectroscopies to reveal the Cu oxidation state and to identify the adsorbed species during partial oxidation, steam reforming and autothermal reforming of methanol at 200 degrees celsius surface temperature and in the mbar pressure range.  

The variances between the results is rationalised as the shift in equilibrium caused by the additon of H2O.