LEED and thermal desorption studies of small molecules (H2, O2, CO,CO2, NO,C2H4, C2H2 and C) chemisorbed on the stepped rhodium (755) and (331) surfaces

The chemisorption of H₂, O₂, CO, CO₂, NO, C₂H₂, C₂H₄ and C has been studied on the clean stepped Rh(755) and (331) surfaces. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) were used to determine the size and orientation of the unit cells, desorption temperatures and decomposition characteristics for each adsorbate. All of the molecules studied readily chemisorbed on both stepped surfaces and several ordered surface structures were observed. The LEED patterns seen on the (755) surface were due to the formation of surface structures on the (111) terraces, while on the (331) surface the step periodicity played an important role in the determination of the unit cells of the observed structures. When heated in O₂ or C₂H₄ the (331) surface was more stable than the (755) surface which readily formed (111) and (100) facets. In the CO and CO₂ TDS spectra a peak due to dissociated CO was observed on both surfaces. NO adsorption was dissociative at low exposures and associative at high exposures. C₂H₄ and C₂H₂ had similar adsorption and desorption properties and it is likely that the same adsorbed species was formed by both molecules.     

LEED,AES and thermal desorption studies of chemisorbed Hydrogen and hydrocarbons (C2H2, C2H4, C6H6, C6H12) on the (111) and stepped [6(111) × (100)] iridium crystal surfaces; comparison with platinum

The adsorption of hydrogen, ethylene, acetylene, cyclohexane and benzene was studied on both the (111) and stepped [6(111) × (100)] crystal surfaces of iridium. The techniques used were low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, and thermal desorption mass spectrometry. At 30°C, acetylene, ethylene and benzene are adsorbed with a sticking probability near unity. The sticking probability of cyclohexane is less than 0.1 on both surfaces. Heating the (111) surface above 800°C, in the presence of the hydrocarbons, results in the formation of an ordered carbonaceous overlayer with a diffraction pattern corresponding to a (9 × 9) surface structure. No indication for ordering of the carbonaceous residue was found on the stepped iridium surface in these experimental conditions. The hydrocarbon molecules form only poorly ordered surface structures on both iridium surfaces when the adsorption is carried out at 30°C. Benzene is the only gas that can be desorbed from the surfaces in large amounts by heating. Ethylene remains largely on the surface, only a few percent is removed by heating while acetylene and cyclohexane cannot be desorbed at all. When adsorption is carried out at 30°C and the crystal is subsequently flashed to high temperature, hydrogen is liberated from the surface. The hydrogen desorption spectra from the iridium surfaces exposed to C₂H₄, C₂H₂, or C₆H₆ exhibit two hydrogen desorption peaks, one around 200°C and the second around 350°C. The temperatures where these peaks appear vary slightly with the type of hydrocarbon. The relative intensities of these two peaks depend strongly on the surface used. Arguments are presented that decomposition of the hydrocarbon molecules (C-H bond breaking nd possibly also C-C bond breaking) occurs easier on the stepped iridium surface than on the (111) surface. Hydrogen is desorbed at a higher temperature from an iridium surface possessing a high density of surface imperfections than from a perfect iridium (111) surface. The results are compared with those obtained previously on similar crystal surfaces of platinum. It appears that C-H bond breaking occurs more easily on iridium than on platinum.     

Leed and thermal desorption studies of small molecules (H2, O2, CO,CO2, NO,C2H4, C2H2 AND C) chemisorbed on the rhodium (111) and (100) surfaces

The chemisorption of H₂, O₂, CO, CO₂, NO, C₂H₄, C₂H₂ and C has been studied on the clean Rh(111) and (100) surfaces. LEED, AES and thermal desorption were used to determine the surface structures, disordering and desorption temperatures, displacement and decomposition characteristics for each species. All of the molecules studied readily chemisorbed on both surfaces. A large variety of ordered structures was observed, especially on the (111) surface. The disordering temperatures of most ordered surface structures on the (111) surface were below 100°C. It was necessary to adsorb the gases at 25° C or below in order to obtain well-ordered surface structures. Chemisorbed oxygen was readily removed from the surface by H₂ or CO gas at crystal temperatures above 50°C. CO₂ appears to dissociate to CO upon adsorption on both rhodium surfaces as indicated by the identical ordering and desorption characteristics of these two molecules. C₂H₄ and C₂H₂ also had very similar ordering and desorption characteristics and it is likely that the adsorbed species formed by both molecules is the same. Decomposition of ethylene produced a sequence of ordered carbon surface structures on the (111) face as a result of a bulk-surface carbon equilibrium. The chemisorption properties of rhodium appear to be generally similar to those of iridium, nickel and palladium.     

The adsorption of CO,O2, and H2 on Pt: I. Thermal desorption spectroscopy studies

Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) has been used to study the chemisorption of CO, O₂, and h₂ on Pt. It has been found that TDS is quite sensitive to local surface structure. Three single crystal and two polycrystalline Pt surfaces were studied. One single crystal was cut to expose the smooth, hexagonally close-packed plane of the fee Pt crystal (the (111) surface). The other two single crystals were cut to expose stepped surfaces consisting of smooth, hexagonally close-packed terraces six atoms wide separated by one atom high steps (the 6(111) × (100) and 6(111) × (111) surfaces). Only one predominant desorption state was observed for CO and H adsorbed on the smooth (111) single crystal surface, while two predominant desorption states were observed for these gases adsorbed on the stepped single crystal surfaces. The low temperature desorption states on the stepped surfaces are attributed to desorption from the terraces, while the high temperature desorption states are attributed to desorption from the steps. TDS of CO from the polycrystalline foils exhibited some desorption states which were similar to those observed on the stepped single crystal surfaces, indicating the presence of adsorption sites on the polycrystalline foils that were similar to the terrace and step sites on the stepped single crystals. In general, these results suggest a high density of defect sites on the polycrystalline foils which can not be attributed simply to adsorption at grain boundaries. Oxygen was found to adsorb well on the stepped single crystals and on the polycrystalline foils, but not on the smooth (111) single crystal, under the conditions of these experiments. This is attributed to a higher sticking probability for dissociative O₂ adsorption at steps or defects than on terraces.     

The chemisorption of CO,CO2, C2H2, C2H4, H2 and NH3 on the clean Fe(100) and (111) crystal surfaces

The chemisorption of small molecules (CO, CO₂, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, H₂ and NH₃) has been studied on the clean Fe(110) and (111) crystal faces by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and thermal desorption. C₂H₄ and C₂H₂ yield the same sequence of surface structures that change with temperature and crystal orientation. CO and CO₂ chemisorption similarly results in the formation of the same types of surface structures that change with surface temperature and crystal orientation. Ammonia forms several ordered surface structures on both iron crystal faces. All of the molecules decompose as a function of temperature on the iron surfaces as indicated by the Auger and thermal desorption spectra.     

The decomposition of ammonia on the flat (111) and stepped (557) platinum crystal surfaces

Ammonia adsorption, desorption and decomposition to H₂ and N₂ has been studied on the flat (111) and stepped (557) single crystal faces of platinum using molecular beam surface scattering techniques. Both surfaces show significant adsorption with sticking coefficients on the order of unity. The stepped (557) surface is 16 times more reactive for decomposition of ammonia to N₂ and H₂ than the flat (111) surface. Kinetic parameters have been determined for the ammonia desorption process from the Pt(111) surface. The mechanism of ammonia decomposition on the (557) face of platinum has been investigated.     

Interaction of CO,CO2 and O2 with nonpolar,stepped and polar Zn surfaces of ZnO

The nonpolar (10$\text{1}$0), stepped (40$\text{4}$1) and (50$\text{5}$1), and the polar (0001) surfaces of ZnO were prepared. Stable unreconstructed nonpolar and stepped surfaces were obtained. LEED analyses showed that the step height and the step width of the stepped surfaces were similar to the theoretical values. The polar surface showed a 1 × 1 LEED pattern of six-fold symmetry after annealing at 500°C, and evidence of a more complicated pattern at 300–400°C. Temperature programmed desorption of CO resulted in the desorption of CO from the stepped and the polar surfaces. However, desorption of CO₂ was observed from the stoichiometric nonpolar surface, and no desorption from the reduced nonpolar surface. CO₂ was also observed by interacting CO with all surfaces at elevated temperatures. A total of four temperature programmed desorption peaks of CO₂, α, β, γ, and δ were observed. The α and β peaks were observed on the nonpolar and the stepped surfaces, and the γ peak was observed on the polar surface. The α peak was assigned to adsorption on a surface ZnO pair, and the β peak was assigned to adsorption on an anion vacancy or a step. While adsorbed water enhanced the β, preadsorbed methanol reduced it. O₂ adsorption was similar on the nonpolar and the stepped surfaces, but was weak on the polar surface.     

Exploring the mechanism of NO–C2H4 reactions on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2)

Fourier transform infra red reflection–absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS), thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), and auger electron spectroscopy (AES), were employed to explore the mechanism of NO reduction in the presence of C₂H₄ on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2). Both NO–Pt and C₂H₄–Pt interactions are enhanced when NO and C₂H₄ are co-adsorbed on Pt(3 3 2). As a result, C₂H₄ is dissociated at surface temperatures as low as 150 K, and the N–O stretch band is weakened. The presence of post-exposed C₂H₄ leads NO desorption from steps to decrease significantly, but the same effect on NO desorption from terraces becomes appreciable only at higher post-exposures of C₂H₄, e.g., 0.6 L and 1.2 L, and proceeds to a much slighter extent. Auger spectra indicate that as a result of the reaction with O from NO dissociation, the amount of surface C species is greatly reduced when NO is post-exposed to a C₂H₄ adlayer. It is concluded that reduction of NO in the presence of C₂H₄ proceeds very effectively on the surface of the Pt(3 3 2), through a mechanism of NO dissociation and subsequent O removal. Following this mechanism, the significant dissociation of adsorbed NO molecules on steps at surface temperatures below 400 K, and subsequent rapid reaction between the resultant O and C-related species, accounts for the considerable amount of N₂ desorption at temperatures below 400 K.     

The adsorption of CO,O2, and H2 on Pt(100)-(5×20)

The adsorption/desorption characteristics of CO, O₂, and H₂ on the Pt(100)-(5 × 20) surface were examined using flash desorption spectroscopy. Subsequent to adsorption at 300 K, CO desorbed from the (5×20) surface in three peaks with binding energies of 28, 31.6 and 33 kcal gmol^?1. These states formed differently from those following adsorption on the Pt(100)-(1 × 1) surface, suggesting structural effects on adsorption. Oxygen could be readily adsorbed on the (5×20) surface at temperatures above 500 K and high O₂ fluxes up to coverages of $\text{2}\text{3}$ of a monolayer with a net sticking probability to ssaturation of ? 10^?3. Oxygen adsorption reconstructed the (5 × 20) surface, and several ordered LEED patterns were observed. Upon heating, oxygen desorbed from the surface in two peaks at 676 and 709 K; the lower temperature peak exhibited atrractive lateral interactions evidenced by autocatalytic desorption kinetics. Hydrogen was also found to reconstruct the (5 × 20) surface to the (1 × 1) structure, provided adsorption was performed at 200 K. For all three species, CO, O₂, and H₂, the surface returned to the (5 × 20) structure only after the adsorbates were completely desorbed from the surface.     

Adsorption of carbon monoxide,oxygen, hydrogen,nitrogen, ethylene and benzene on an iridium (110) surface; Correlation with other iridium crystal faces

The interaction of CO, O₂, H₂, N₂, C₂H₄ and C₆H₆ with an Ir(110) surface has been studied using LEED, Auger electron spectroscopy and flash desorption mass spectroscopy. Adsorption of oxygen at 30°C produces a (1× 2) structure, while a c(2 × 2) structure is formed at 400°C. Two peaks have been detected in the thermal desorption spectrum of oxygen following adsorption at 30°C. The heat of adsorption of hydrogen is slightly higher on Ir(110) than on Ir(111). Adsorption of carbon monoxide at 30°C produces a (2 × 1) surface structure. The main CO desorption peak is found around 230, while two other desorption peaks are observed around 340 and 160°C. At exposures between 250 and 500°C carbon monoxide adsorption yields a c(2 × 2) structure and a desorption peak around 600°C. Carbon monoxide is adsorbed on an Ir(110) surface partly covered with oxygen or carbon in a new binding state with a significantly higher desorption temperature than on the clean surface. Adsorption of nitrogen could not be detected on either clean or on carbon covered Ir(110) surfaces. The hydrocarbon molecules do not form ordered surface structures on Ir(110). The thermal desorption spectra obtained after adsorption of C₆H₆ or C₂H₄ are similar to those reported previously for Ir(111) consisting mostly of hydrogen. Heating the (110) surface above 700°C in the presence of C₆H₆ or C₂H₄ results in the formation of an ordered carbonaceous overlayer with (1 × 1) structure. The results are compared with those obtained previously on the Ir(111) and Ir(755) or stepped [6(111) × (100)] surfaces. The CO adsorption results are discussed in relation to data on similar surfaces of other Group VIII metals.     

Flash desorption and equilibration of H2 and D2 on single crystal surfaces of platinum

The adsorption and flash desorption of hydrogen and the equilibration of H₂ and D₂ has been studied on the (110), (211), (111) and (100) planes of platinum. Desorption from Pt (211), a stepped surface composed of (111) and (100) ledges, yields a desorption spectrum which apparently is a composite of desorption from the individual ledges. Pt (110) is quite similar to the tungsten structural analog, W (211), in that both yield two-peak desorption spectra, and on both planes adsorption kinetics are dramatically different for filling of the two states. On all four planes adsorption kinetics are apparently proportional to (1 ? θ)², and estimates of the initial sticking probabilities show them to decrease in the order: (110) > (211) > (100) > (111). Equilibration activity follows approximately the same order [(110) > (211) > (111) > (100)] with a factor of ~ 5 difference between the most and least active planes; no extraordinary activity is observed for the stepped surface, Pt(211). Below ~ 570 K equilibration of H₂ and D₂ is activated by less than 2 kcal/mole with the magnitude dependent on the specific face, and above this temperature the reaction is nonactivated. The non-activated case apparently results from absorption followed by statistical mixing on the surface. Calculated rates for HD production per cm² based on this model are in excellent agreement with the experimental values for Pt(110) and Pt(211), and in somewhat poorer agreement in the case of Pt (111) and Pt (100). This latter is probably due to the greater inaccuracy in the values of the sticking coefficients on these planes.     

Adsorption-desorption studies using ESD of CCl2F2, C2H2F2 and C2F6 on tungsten

The behavior of the desorbing F⁺ ion current from electron bombarded CCl₂F₂, C₂H₂F₂ and C₂F₆ adsorbed on tungsten has been used to investigate the processes of adsorption and desorption of these gases. For tungsten near room temperature, measurements of the F⁺ ion current as a function of electron bombardment time indicated very similar or even identical F⁺-yielding adsorbed species resulting from adsorption of either CCl₂F₂ or C₂H₂F₂ and widely different species from C₂F₆. Cl⁺ ions were also observed to desorb from CCl₂F₂ ad-layers. The behavior of the Cl⁺ ion current with time during electron bombardment indicated electronic conversion between adsorbed binding modes. Complementary investigations on the interaction of CCl₂F₂, C₂H₂F₂ and C₂F₆ with tungsten were carried out by thermal desorption experiments in which the F⁺ ion signal was used to observe the coverage decrease of the F⁺-yielding species. The experiments were performed at tungsten temperatures in the 1200–1600 K range. It was concluded that the F⁺-yielding adsorbed species from CCl₂F₂ and C₂H₂F₂ were strongly bound to the tungsten surface. The F⁺-yielding species from C₂F₆ were found to be weakly bound. From a comparison of the ESD and thermal desorption results, the possibility of dissociative adsorption as well as the nature of the adsorbed species is discussed.     

The influence of structural defects on the adsorption of simple molecules (H2, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, CO,NO) on rhenium single crystals

Using Thermal Programmed Desorption (TPD), Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) we have studied the adsorption of hydrogen-containing molecules (H₂, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆) and oxygen-containing molecules (CO and NO) on two vicinal planes of the Re(0001) surface. The two surfaces are designated thus: ReS ¦14(0001)(101̄1)¦, ReS |6(0001)(167̄1) | . The structural defects have little effect on the adsorption of hydrogen and the hydrocarbons. They are more influential in the case of the oxygen-containing molecules. This is particularly true for CO; on the kink sites the CO molecules can completely dissociate whereas only a partial dissociation is possible on the steps. These results should be viewed in relation to the strong bond energy between carbon and oxygen in a CO molecule of 256 kcal/mole and the great affinity of oxygen for rhenium; E_Re?O = 127 kcal/mole.     

Low-energy electron diffraction,Auger electron spectroscopy,and thermal desorption studies of chemisorbed CO and O2 on the (111) and stepped [6(111) × (100)] iridium surfaces

The adsorption of CO, O₂, and H₂O was studied on both the (111) and [6(111) × (100)] crystal faces of iridium. The techniques used were LEED, AES, and thermal desorption. Marked differences were found in surface structures and heats of adsorption on these crystal faces. Oxygen is adsorbed in a single bonding state on the (111) face. On the stepped iridium surface an additional bonding state with a higher heat of adsorption was detected which can be attributed to oxygen adsorbed at steps. On both (111) and stepped iridium crystal faces the adsorption of oxygen at room temperature produced a (2 × 1) surface structure. Two surface structures were found for CO adsorbed on Ir(111); a (√3 × √3)R30° at an exposure of 1.5–2.5 L and a (2√3 × 2√3)R30° at higher coverage. No indication for ordering of adsorbed CO was found on the Ir(S)-[6(111) × (100)] surface. No significant differences in thermal desorption spectra of CO were found on these two faces. H₂O is not adsorbed at 300 K on either iridium crystal face. The reaction of CO with O₂ was studied on Ir(111) and the results are discussed. The influence of steps on the adsorption behaviour of CO and O₂ on iridium and the correlation with the results found previously on the same platinum crystal faces are discussed.     

Auger spectra of CO,C2H4, C2N2 and C6H6 adsorbed on Pt(111)

Electron excited carbon KVV Auger spectra of CO, C₂H₄, C₂N₂ and C₆H₆ adsorbed on Pt(111) are compared. By estimating the effective Coulomb interaction between the final-state holes it is possible to associate some features with transitions observed in free molecule spectra, but others must involve at least one electron with energy within the conduction band of the metal. Such “cross-transitions” are associated with strong 2π* character of filled states in the presence of a core hole in molecules such as CO.     

Defect induced surface chemistry: A comparison of the adsorption and thermal decomposition of C2H4 on Rh{111} and Rh{331}

The adsorption and thermal decomposition of C₂H₂ on Rh{111} is compared to the atomically stepped Rh{331} surface over a temperature range of 300 to 800 K. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) we find that the C 1s spectra as a function of C₂H₄ exposure exhibit a shift in binding energy (E_b) from 283.5 eV at 1 L C₂H₄ exposure on both surfaces to 283.8 eV on Rh{33 and to 284.1 eV on Rh{111} at saturation coverage (4 L). Careful analysis of the C 1s E_b value and full width at half maximum as a function of surface temperature after a 10 L exposure of C₂H₄ at 300 K reveals that a species consistent with a C₂H adsorbate composition is formed between 400 and 450 K on Rh{111}. This species is also observed on Rh{331} although at the lower temperature of 375 K. Computer peak deconvolution of the C 1s spectra between 500 and 700 K suggests that a CH_ads or C_ads surface fragment is formed and increases in concentration at the expense of the C₂H species as the surface temperature increases. Above 750 K a graphite overlayer is formed on both surfaces. This overlayer, however, exhibits a low degree of carbon π-character bonding on Rh{331}. The adsorption and decomposition mechanisms suggest that the 300 K C₂H₄ adsorbate on Rh{331} is ethylidyne and that the stepped surface is more thermally reactive than the flat Rh{111} surface.     

Potassium and potassium oxide monolayers on the platinum (111) and stepped (755) crystal surfaces: A LEED,AES, and TDS study

The adsorption of potassium and the coadsorption of potassium and oxygen on the Pt(111) and stepped Pt(755) crystal surfaces were studied by AES, LEED, and TDS. Pure potassium adlayers were found by LEED to be hexagonally ordered on Pt(111) at coverages of θ = _K0.9–;1. The monolayer coverage was 5.4 × 10¹⁴K atoms/cm² (0.36 times the atomic density of the Pt(111) surface). Orientational reordering of the adlayers, similar to the behavior of noble gas phase transitions on metals, was observed. The heat of desorption of K decreased, due to depolarization effects, from 60 kcal/mole at θ_K <0.1, to 25 kcal/mole at θ_K = 1 on both Pt(111) and Pt(755). Exposure to oxygen thermally stabilizes a potassium monolayer, increasing the heat of desorption from 25 to 50 kcal/mole. Both potassium and oxygen were found to desorb simultaneously indicating strong interactions in the adsorbed overlayer. LEED results on Pt(111) further indicate that a planar K₂O layer may be formed by annealing coadsorbed potassium and oxygen to 750 K.     

Interaction of C2N2 with clean and oxygen dosed Cu(111) surface studied by AES,ELS and TDS measurements

The adsorption and surface reaction of cyanogen on clean and oxygen covered Cu(111) have been investigated. From electron energy loss measurements, thermal desorption spectroscopy and electron beam effects in Auger spectroscopy, it is proposed that cyanogen adsorbs dissociatively on Cu(111) at 300 K. The activation energy for the desorption was calculated to be 180 kJ/mol. Cyanogen adsorption onto oxygen predosed Cu(111) is inferred to produce the NCO surface species. This interpretation was aided by data of electron energy loss measurements and from HNCO adsorption onto Cu(111) at 300 K. A reaction began in the co-adsorbed layer above 400 K, yielding CO₂ and N₂.     

The role of co-adsorbed O2 on the catalytic reduction of NO with C2H5OH on the surface of Pt(3 3 2)

The influence of pre-dosed O₂ on the catalytic reduction of NO with ¹³C₂H₅OH on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2) was investigated using Fourier transform infra red reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). We show that the oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH with O₂ is a very effective reaction, occurring at 150 K and giving rise to acetate. The presence of NO does not lead to any evident oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH irrespective of the annealing temperature. For the case of O₂ + ¹³C₂H₅OH + NO co-adlayers, oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH also takes place at 150 K. However, no new surface species that are supposed to be an intermediate for the production of N₂ are detected.The influence of O₂ on the production and desorption of N₂ is intimately related to both O₂ and ¹³C₂H₅OH coverage. The presence of pre-dosed O₂ does not greatly promote N₂ desorption. In fact, N₂ desorption is suppressed quantitatively with increasing O₂ coverage, after which unreacted, or left-over O atoms appear and remain on steps. It is concluded that the presence of pre-dosed O₂ does not play a role of activating reactants in the catalytic reduction of NO with ¹³C₂H₅OH on the surface of Pt(3 3 2).     

Experimental and theoretical studies of linear polyatomic molecules on surfaces of low symmetry: C2N2- on Pt(110)

The adsorption and surface dissociation of C₂N₂ on Pt(110), and the desorption kinetics of cyanide adlayers have been studied by LEED, Auger spectroscopy, and thermal desorption. The unusual adsorption kinetics which are accompanied by a (1 × 2) → (1 × 1) change in the surface periodicity are discussed in terms of absolute rate theory. The desorption process is modelled using 2D Monte Carlo and 1D analytical methods; these calculations indicate that the adlayer is only partly equilibrated — a conclusion which is confirmed by the results of CO coadsorption experiments. Values are deduced for the desorption parameters which suggest that the CN molecule is multiply bonded to the Pt surface.