The bonding, structure and reactions of CO2 adsorbed on clean and promoted metal surfaces

Abstract The characteristics of the adsorption and reactions of CO 2 on Rh, Pd, Pt, Ni, Fe, Cu, Re, Al, Mg and Ag metals are discussed with particular emphasis on the activation of the CO 2 molecule. Strong spectroscopie evidence is presented for the formation of negatively charged CO 2 − , which - depending on the nature of the metal - may dissociate into CO and O, or transform into CO 3 + CO. The presence of surface adatoms dramatically influences the adsorption and reactivity of CO 2 . Alkali adatoms increase the binding energy of adsorbed CO 2 , promote the dissociation and/or the transformation of CO 2 into CO 3 + O. In the presence of preadsorbed oxygen the formation of carbonate of different structures predominates.