Defect-mediated adsorption of methanol and carbon dioxide on BaTiO3(001)

The surface chemistry of single crystal barium titanate (BaTiO3) has been studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD). TPD measurements were performed with several probe molecules, including methanol and carbon dioxide. The role of oxygen vacancies in the adsorption and reaction of these molecules was examined by annealing the crystal under oxidizing or reducing conditions prior to performing TPD. It is shown that the adsorption and reaction of methanol and carbon dioxide are enhanced on BaTiO3(001) by annealing the crystal under reducing conditions.