The interaction between ethene and Cl2 on
ZnO(0001̅)
has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS),
temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional theory
(DFT) calculations. At 110 K, the Cl2 molecule is perpendicularly
adsorbed on ZnO(0001̅). Upon heating, Cl2 is dissociated
on the surface in the temperature range of 200–230 K. When
the surface coadsorbed with Cl2 and ethene is heated, the
desorption of 1,2-dichloroethane is observed at ∼230 K. The
desorption temperature is comparable to the dissociation temperature
of Cl2 on ZnO(0001̅). Ethene does not react with
Cl atoms chemisorbed on ZnO(0001̅). We propose that “hot”
Cl atoms, which are produced during thermal dissociation of Cl2, promote the direct chlorination of C2H4. The energy of the hot Cl atoms is calculated to be maximum 27.5
kcal/mole higher than the energy of the chemisorbed Cl atoms.