High temperature coadsorption study of zirconium and oxygen on the W(100) crystal face

The coadsorption of zirconium and oxygen on W(100) has been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, mass spectroscopy, ion sputtering, and work function measurement techniques. Adsorption of zirconium onto W(100) followed by heating in an oxygen partial pressure produces rapid diffusion of a ZrO complex into the bulk and the formation of a tungsten oxide layer. Heating in vacuum causes desorption of the tungsten oxide and segregation of the ZrO complex to the surface. The activation energy for the ZrO bulk-to-surface diffusion is 30 ± 2 kcal/mole. Upon heating in vacuum at 2000 K the composite surface exhibits predominantly a (1 × 1) LEED structure with a room temperature field emission retarding potential work function of 2.67 ± 0.05 eV. The Richardson work function for this unusually thermally stable surface is 2.56 ± 0.05 eV with a pre-exponential of 6 ± 2. The effects of carbon and nitrogen contamination on this low work function ZrOW composite surface are discussed and a structural model for the surface is presented.