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

Abstract
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.