FT-IR study of the surface of copper oxide

The surface properties of CuO prepared by thermal decomposition of Cu(OH)2·CuCO3 have been studied by FT-IR spectroscopy of CO, CO2, pyridine, pivalonitrile, methanol and formic acid adsorbed in the 200–420 K temperature range. The surface, after activation in vacuo, exposes different metal centers, developing a very weak Lewis acidic activity, identified as Cu2+ and Cu+ sites. A relevant surface basic strength is also detected. The very strong surface reactivity causes degradation even at room temperature of adsorbed pyridine and pivalonitrile, while methoxy groups already start to decompose at 270 K.