Thermal Decomposition of Silver Oxide Monitored by Raman Spectroscopy: From AgO Units to Oxygen Atoms Chemisorbed on the Silver Surface

When Ag7O8NO3 is heated in an O2-free atmosphere between 300 and 930 K, its AgO units (300–480 K) are transformed into Ag2O units (480–580 K) and ultimately into metallic Ag. A strongly chemisorbed Oγ species is found on the Ag surface at temperatures between 580 and 900 K which participates in the catalytic oxidation of methanol to give formaldehyde. The various O species were characterized by Raman spectroscopy