The state of Rh during the partial oxidation of methane into synthesis gas

The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over an \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} $$\alpha {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$$ \end{document}- and a \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} $$\gamma {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$$ \end{document}-supported Rh catalyst has been studied at atmospheric pressure using in situ DRIFTS between 823 and 973 K. A surface intermediate species with IR band at 2000 cm-1, correlating with the CO formation, was observed during the partial oxidation. DRIFT spectra of adsorbed CO at 323 K were used to study the state of Rh during the partial oxidation. The state of Rh at 973 K is proposed to be a matrix of metallic rhodium with clusters of partially reduced oxide phase with isolated Rh+ atoms dispersed on the support. Rh oxide with Rh+ cations is the state of Rh during partial oxidation of methane at 823 K.