Modification of Surface Reactivity by CO: Effects on Decomposition and Polymerization of Acetaldehyde on Ru(0001)

The adsorption and reaction of acetaldehyde on the clean and CO pre-covered Ru(0001) surfaces have been investigated using temperature programmed desorption method. On the clean Ru(0001) surface, the decomposition of acetaldehyde is the main reaction channel, with little polymerization occurring. However, on the CO pre-covered Ru(0001) surface, the decomposition of acetaldehyde is inhibited considerably with increasing CO coverage. Whereas, the polymerization occurs efficiently, especially at high CO coverage (θ_CO>0.5 ML), which is strongly CO coverage dependent. Combined with previous studies, the well-ordered hexagonal structure of CO layer formed on the Ru(0001) surface at high CO coverage that matches the configuration of paraldehyde is likely to be the origin of this remarkable phenomenon.