Methanol Oxidation on Cu(110)

In this paper we highlight the important contribution made by Bob Madix to the understanding of catalysis at single crystal surfaces, focusing here on a favourite model system of his, namely the oxidation of methanol on Cu(110). Madix showed clearly that the methoxy was the pivotal intermediate involved, and it is bound to the surface through the oxygen atom. Here we demonstrate the nature of the reaction between methanol and oxygen at the nanoscale by STM, and further reveal that only certain oxygen atoms in the p(2x1) oxygen structure are the active sites for the reaction. These are located at the short ends of the elongated oxygen islands.