By means of X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, UPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) it is shown that methanol is formed from carbon dioxide and water on the surface of reduced molybdenum oxide substrate MoO x (x<2) under pulsed laser irradiation at photon energy of 6.4 eV, pulse duration 9 ns and laser fluence of 4 mJ/cm 2. The key factor is MoO x defect enhanced photoinduced substrate mediated CO 2 and H 2 O bond activation, leading to formation of reaction intermediates: CH 2 O 2 → CH 2 O → O-CH 3 , forming finally methanol.
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