Formate stability and carbonate hydrogenation on strained Cu overlayers on Pt(1Â 1Â 1)

The hydrogenation of carbonate produced by 0.3 bar CO2 exposure at room temperature was monitored with XPS and TPD showing a significant loss of carbonate when subjected to 0.2 bar H2 at room temperature. However, the presence of formate on the surface, or any other hydrogenation product, could not be established during or after H2 exposure by PM-IRRAS, EELS or TPD. Even so, the results suggest that carbonate and its hydrogenation may constitute a relevant pathway to methanol production.