A boundary for reaction mechanisms within the transition metals interacting with nitrogen oxides is observed in DSIMS experiments

Summary Dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (DSIMS) investigations have been carried out with Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Mo, Rh, W, Re, Os and Ir under 4 mPa N₂O, NO and 3 mPa NO₂ as reactant gases. Results indicate similar behaviour in adsorption for Cr, Mn, Fe, Mo, W on the one hand and for Co, Rh, Os and Ir on the other. For the first group of metals the nitrogen oxide molecules are always totally destroyed in adsorption whereas the second group shows evidence for surface compounds such as MeNO (Me=metal) indicating only a partial dissociation in the case of N₂O and NO₂, and molecular adsorption under NO respectively. Re does not belong uniquely to either group because it reacts with N₂O and NO₂ dissociatively whereas under NO only partial dissociation is observed.Abbreviations SIMS Secondary ion mass spectrometry - SSIMS Static SIMS - AES Auger electron spectroscopy - EELS Electron energy-loss spectroscopy - LEED Low energy electron diffraction - TDS Thermal desorption spectroscopy - XPS, UPS X-ray/Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy