Decomposition of ethylene on palladium surfaces at 200 °C

Abstract

The interaction of ethylene with surfaces of palladium films at 200 °C was studied by work function and volumetric measurements and by analysis of the gaseous reaction products. Intensive dehydrogenation of the adsorbed ethylene, accompanied by desorption of hydrogen into the gaseous phase, was observed. The surface adsorption layer was found to comprise hydrocarbon species with the H/C ratio 0.5 (independent of the degree of surface coverage) and surface-bonded hydrogen whose amount, per adsorbed ethylene molecule, dropped rapidly with increasing degree of surface coverage by the hydrocarbon species.