Feng Ouyang, Junko N. Kondo, Ken-ichi Maruya and Kazunari Domen
H/D isotope exchange reactions of adsorbed formate [HCOO(a)] and methoxy [CH3O(a)] species with D2 on ZrO2 have been investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. The H/D exchange reaction of the formate proceeded only in the presence of gaseous D2 [D2(g)] and not with surface OD groups. The rate determining step was concluded to be the activation of D2(g) withan activation energy of 95±8 kJ mol-1 (473–573 K). On the other hand, methoxy species exchanged H atoms in the methylgroup with the surface OD groups, even in the absence of D2(g). The activation energy was measured to be 127±8 kJ mol-1 (523–623 K).