BARC/PUB/2018/0667

 
 

Formation of CO2 from formic acid through catalytic electron channel

 
     
 
Author(s)

Davis, D.; Kundu, S.; Prabhudesai, V. S.; Sajeev, Y.; and others
(TCS)

Source

Journal of Chemical Physics, 2018. Vol. 149: Article no. 064308

ABSTRACT

Low energy electrons can initiate and control chemical reactions through resonant attachment forming an electron-molecule compound state. Recently, it has been theoretically shown that free electrons can also act as catalysts in chemical reactions. We investigate this novel concept for the case of conversion of formic acid into CO2. Resonant production of CO2 from cold formic acid films by low energy electron impact is observed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The resonant peak observed at 6 eV is identified as the catalytic electron channel.The experimental results are augmented with the ab initio quantum chemical calculations.

 
 
SIRD Digital E-Sangrahay