The methanation activity of W(110)

Abstract The methanation activity of W(110) was measured over a range of reactant partial pressures and temperatures (P H 2 = 1–1000 Torr , P CO = 0.1–10 Torr , T = 475–820 K ). Plotting the results in an Arrhenius fashion yielded a lower apparent activation energy (E a = 56 kJ mol −1 ) than previously determined for Ni(100) (E a = 103 kJ mol −1 ) with an activity surpassing that of Ni at lower temperatures. The H 2 pressure dependence of the methanation activity was found to be much stronger for W(110) than for Ni(100), the surface becoming increasingly inactive at the lowest H 2 pressures investigated. Auger electron spectroscopy revealed the active catalytic surface to be carbidic in nature.