Isothermal Reduction of IrO2(110) Films by Methane Investigated Using in Situ X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Continuous exposure to methane causes IrO2(110) films on Ir(100) to undergo extensive reduction at temperatures from 500 to 650 K. Measurements using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm that CH4 oxidation on IrO2(110) converts so-called bridging oxygen atoms (Obr) at the surface to HObr groups while concurrently removing oxygen from the oxide film. Reduction of the IrO2(110) fil