Acetaldehyde photochemistry on TiO2(110)

The ultraviolet (UV) photon induced decomposition of acetaldehyde adsorbed on the oxidized rutile TiO2(1 1 0) surface was studied with photon stimulated desorption (PSD) and thermal programmed desorption (TPD). Acetaldehyde desorbs molecularly from TiO2(1 1 0) with minor decomposition channels yielding butene on the reduced TiO2 surface and acetate on the oxidized TiO2 surface. Acetaldehyde adsorbed on oxidized TiO2(1 1 0) undergoes a facile thermal reaction to form a photoactive acetaldehyde-oxygen complex. UV irradiation of the acetaldehyde-oxygen complex initiated photofragmentation of the complex resulting in the ejection of methyl radical into gas phase and conversion of the surface bound fragment to formate.