Tribo-Catalysis in the Synthesis Reaction of Carbon Dioxide

Palladium was rubbed against aluminum oxide in an atmosphere of carbon monoxide and oxygen. The synthesis of carbon dioxide was enhanced during the rubbing. The activation energy of this reaction was 2.49 kJ/mol. As the sliding commenced, the desorption of carbon dioxide overshot its equilibrium value before stabilizing. The overshoot correlated with the time interval between the friction tests. The desorption mechanism of carbon dioxide is discussed in terms of the NIRAM (negative-ion-radical action mechanism) approach; exoelectron emission was enhanced by the friction of palladium. The electrons reacted with the adsorbed species to make negative-ion-radicals. These radicals further reacted on the surface to form carbon dioxide, which then desorbed.