Abstract
A reaction system and a high temperature cell have been developed for the infrared spectroscopy of surface species during catalytic reaction. The reaction system was a closed circulation apparatus operated by a bellows pump, and the temperature of catalyst in the cell could be varied over a wide range from —195 to 700°C. Thus, formate ion was detected on an alumina catalyst during the water gas shift reaction between 300 and 500°C. Also, the combination of the infrared spectroscopy with the temperature-programed desorption of adsorbed species made it possible to measure the amount of the formate ion on the catalyst.