Chemisorptive bonding and reaction of nitric oxide on Ir(100) and Ir(111) surfaces

Chemisorption of nitric oxide on single crystal Ir(111) and Ir(100)?(5 × 1) has been studied by UV-photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal desorption and low energy electron diffraction. At 300 K, partially dissociative adsorption is observed on both surfaces, confirming the borderline location of Ir in the Periodic Table with respect to molecular versus dissociative adsorption. Three different molecular chemisorption phases are distinguished in the UPS spectra through distinctly different 1π-level energies. A skewed orientation associated with a possible rehybridization and bending of the nitrosyl-metal bound for chemisorption on the Ir(111) surface is inferred both from a splitting of the 1π level and from observation of relative intensity variations in photoemission using a polarized photon source.