Evidence for formation of gaseous methyl radicals in the decomposition of methoxide on oxygen-precovered Mo(110)

Evidence of the unprecedented formation of gaseous methyl radicals from adsorbed methoxide is presented in this study. Previously, surface methoxide has been found to either form formaldehyde or decompose to CO and H{sub 2}. The observation of methyl radicals during decomposition of methanol on Mo(110) precovered with atomic oxygen is of significance to the study of the partial oxidation of methane over metal oxide catalysts, since the observed decomposition pathway of methanol is analogous to the reverse of methane oxidation.