Catalysis Letters, Vol.142, No.1, 16-21, 2012
The O-2 + NH3 Reaction Over Rh(110): Steady State Kinetics and Oscillatory Behavior
The kinetics of ammonia oxidation with oxygen over a Rh(110) surface were studied in the pressure range 10(-5)-10(-4) mbar. Nitrogen was found to be the preferred product at low partial pressures ratios p(o2) : p(NH3), while the NO pathway was favored with oxygen rich gas mixtures and at high temperature. The reactive sticking coefficient of O-2 reaches up to 0.05 under steady state conditions. Pronounced hysteresis effects in the reaction rates were found in T-cycling experiments. Sustained oscillations in the reaction rates occurred under isothermal conditions at T = 620 K at a total pressure of 4 x 10(-5) mbar.