Adsorption and reaction of ethanol on ZnO nanowires

The surface reaction of ethanol on ZnO nanowires was studied by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Desorption products of ethanol from ZnO nanowires were examined as function of temperature and exposure. During heating of the sample up to 900 K, ethanol, ethylene, and hydrogen molecules are desorbed as the main desorption products. Molecular desorption of ethanol was. observed at 145 K from physisorbed layers. A higher desorption energy was observed for chemisorbed ethanol desorbing at 250-275 K. As decomposition products of ethanol on the ZnO nanowire surface, ethylene and hydrogen desorbed at 517 and 523 K, respectively. A reaction model is suggested for the surface decomposition of ethanol on ZnO nanowires.