Direct Evidence for Ethanol Dissociation on RutileTiO2(110)

We have studied the interaction of ethanol with reduced TiO(2)(110)-(1 × 1) by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements and density functional theory calculations. The STM data revealed direct evidence for the coexistence of molecularly and dissociatively adsorbed ethanol species on surface Ti sites. In addition, we found evidence for dissociation of ethanol at bridge-bonded O vacancies. The density functional theory calculations support these findings and rationalize the distinct diffusion behaviors of molecularly and dissociatively adsorbed ethanol species, as revealed in time-lapsed STM images.