AES and LEED studies of xenon adsorption on (100)NaCl

The thermal and electro impact behaviour of NO adsorbed on Pt(111) and Pt(110) have been studied by LEED, Auger spectroscopy, and thermal desorption. NO was found to adsorb non-dissociatively and with very similar low coverage adsorption enthalpies on the two surfaces at 300 K. In both cases, heating the adlayer resulted in partial dissociation and led to the appearance of N₂ and O₂ in the desorption spectra. The (111) surface was found to be significantly more active in inducing the thermal dissociation of NO, and on this surface the molecule was also rapidly desorbed and dissociated under electron impact. Cross sections for these processes were obtained, together with the desorption cross section for atomically bound N formed by dissociation of adsorbed NO. Electron impact effects were found to be much less important on the (110) surface. The results are considered in relation to those already obtained by Ertl et al. for NO adsorption on Ni(111) and Pd(111), and in particular, the unusual desorption kinetics of N₂ production are considered explicitly. Where appropriate, comparisons are made with the behaviour of CO on Pt(111) and Pt(110), and the adsorption kinetics of NO on the (110) surface have been examined.     

Oxygen KLL Auger spectra from O2 and CO adsorbed on Ni

High resolution oxygen KLL Auger spectra from O₂ and CO adsorbed on clean Ni (110) have been measured and compared. These Auger spectra are quite different from one another and are compared with spectra of the free molecules. Similarities between the oxygen spectra from adsorbed and gaseous CO are noted and interpreted as due to the weak bonding of CO to Ni with the O atom furthest from the surface. These Auger studies also characterize the change in bonding of adsorbed CO due to electron beam interaction.     

Nickel carbonyl adsorption on the Ni(111) surface

Overlayers formed by the adsorption of Ni(CO)₄ in CO on the Ni(111) surface at 100 K were characterized using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy. At temperatures below 135 K, molecular nickel carbonyl adsorbs on the CO saturated Ni(111) surface as suggested by several observations. Vibrational transitions characteristic of molecular Ni(CO)₄ are dominant. The energy dependence of both the elastic and inelastic electron scattering cross sections are dramatically altered by Ni(CO)₄ adsorption. All of the mass spectrometer ionization fragments typical of molecular Ni(CO)₄ are observed in the narrow thermal desorption peak at 150 K. The inelastic scattering cross sections for both adsorbed nickel carbonyl and adsorbed CO on the Ni(111) surface suggest that a nonresonant dipole scattering mechanism is dominant.     

Electron beam interactions with CO on W {100} studied by Auger electron spectroscopy

The interaction of 2500 eV electrons with carbon monoxide chemisorbed on tungsten {100} was investigated by rapid-scan Auger electron spectroscopy. When no α state was present the O and C signals from the β state of CO were invariant during electron bombardment, giving an upper limit estimate for the electron stimulated desorption cross section, Q_β of 2 × 10^?21 cm². With the crystal at room temperature and saturated with CO, however, electron-beam induced accumulation of carbon was observed and characterised, the rate of the process being independent of CO pressure at pressures above 2 × 10^?8 Torr. At 450 K the rate was found to be pressure dependent up to at least 6 × 10^?7 Torr. A model is proposed for the accumulation process, which is based on electron beam dissociation of α₂-CO to form adsorbed carbon and gaseous O and the creation of new sites for further α₂-CO adsorption; it is in quantitative agreement with the results and yields a cross section for ESD of α₂-CO (Q_α2 = 1.55×10^?18cm²) in close agreement with direct measurements.     

Electron beam-adsorbate interactions on silicon surfaces

The interactions which occur between electron beams in the energy range 0.5–2.5 keV, with currents of 0.1–1.0 microA and various adsorbates (H₂, CO, CH₄ and C₂H₄) on silicon surfaces have been investigated. The accumulation of beam induced dissociation products on the surface has been monitored by Auger spectroscopy, and the extent of electron stimulated desorption of neutral molecules has been determined mass spectroscopically. Thermal desorption spectra for various gases have also been obtained in order to compare adsorption behaviour with and without the presence of an electron beam. It is concluded that serious experimental errors may occur when LEED and AES are used in adsorption studies, particularly where comparatively weak binding energies are involved.     

CO adsorption on alkali-metal covered Ni(100)

The effect of preadsorbed alkali metal atoms Na, K and Cs on CO adsorption on Ni(100) has been studied using Auger spectroscopy and thermal desorption. It was found that the presence of alkali metals causes an appearance of several more tightly bound states in the CO thermal desorption spectra. The observed difference in carbon and oxygen Auger peak line shape on a bare and alkali modified Ni(100) is indicative that the presence of alkali adatoms induces CO decomposition on the Ni(100) surface. The fraction of dissociated CO increases with the amount of alkali adatoms present. At the same overlayer coverage the dissociation probability increases in the sequence Na, K, Cs. A comparison of the strength of the promoting effect on CO dissociation with the changes in the surface electron density in the presence of alkali adatoms has shown that at low overlayer coverages the electronic factor plays a major role in explaining the action of the surface modificators.     

Electron impact desorption of Xe from the tungsten (110) plane

The electron stimulated desorption of Xe adsorbed on the clean and on oxygen and CO covered tungsten (110) surfaces has been investigated. Only neutral Xe desorption was observed; for Xe on clean W a very small initial regime with cross section 10^?17cm² is followed by a slow decay with cross section 3×10^?19cm². The Xe yield varies nonlinearly with coverage, suggesting desorption from edges of islands or from sites with less than their full complement of nearest neighbor Xe atoms. Desorption from oxygen or CO covered surfaces results in an apparent desorption cross section identical to that of the underlying adsorbate. This results from a kicking off of Xe by electron desorbed O or CO. The true cross sections for these processes are ～10^?14cm² for Xe-0 and ～10^?15 cm² for Xe-CO. Some speculations about the mechanism, particularly the absence of ions are presented.     

Electron-beam induced reduction of carbon concentration on BeO and its effects on secondary electron emission

Electron-beam stimulated reduction of C concentration on BeO, which requires an oxygen ambient ～ 10^?7 torr, was studied using Auger spectroscopy. As the C Auger line decreases, those of Be and O increase, the secondary electron emission ratio δ increases, and the work function decreases. We have concluded that these effects stem from electron stimulated desorption of C. The desorption process is monomolecular, at least initially, with a cross-section of about 2.1 × 10^?20cm², from which we infer that the desorbing species is CO⁺. The adsorbed C, initially in the graphite form, can be converted to the carbide form by heat treatment as low as 450°C. This conversion is accompanied by a decrease in work function of 2.50 V from the value associated with the graphite C. The magnitude of the Auger electron signal from carbide C decreases under electron beam irradiation; however, in this case, the reduction in the magnitude of the C Auger line is not accompanied by any change in δ or yield curve. It is suggested that this decrease is not due to desorption of the carbide C, but rather to an electron-induced change in the C bonding state.     

Chemisorption,surface structural chemistry,and electron impact properties of carbon monoxide on rhodium (110)

The adsorption, desorption, surface structural chemistry, and electron impact properties of CO on Rh(110) have been studied by LEED, Auger spectroscopy, thermal desorption, and surface potential measurements. At 300 K, CO adsorbs into a single chemisorbed state whose desorption energy (E_d) is ~130kJmol^-1. The initial sticking probability is unity, and at saturation coverage a (2 × 1)plgl ordered phase reaches its maximum degree of perfection, thus demonstrating that this CO structure is common to the (110) faces of all the cubic platinum group metals. The saturated adlayer corresponds to θ = 1 and shows a surface potential of Δ? = +0.97 V. Under electron impact, desorption and dissociation of CO occur with about equal probability, the relevant cross sections being ~10^-22 m² in each case. Slow thermal dissociation of CO occurs at high temperature and pressure, leaving a deposit of C and O atoms on the surface. The thermal, electron impact, and Δ? properties of Rh(110)CO resemble those of Ni(110)CO rather closely, and are very different from those of Pt(110)CO. Surface carbon is shown to inhibit CO chemisorption, whereas surface oxygen appears to lead to the formation of a new more tightly bound form of CO with a considerably enhanced desorption energy (E_d ~ 183 kJmol^-1). Similar oxygen-induced high temperature CO states have been reported recently on Co(0001) and Ru(101̄1).     

Chemical shifts in auger electron spectra from silicon in silicon nitride

The chemisorption of nitric oxide on (110) nickel has been investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy, LEED and thermal desorption. The NO adsorbed irreversibly at 300 K and a faint (2 × 3) structure was observed. At 500 K this pattern intensified, the nitrogen Auger signal increased and the oxygen signal decreased. This is interpreted as the dissociation of NO which had been bound via nitrogen to the surface. By measuring the rate of the decomposition as a function of temperature the dissociation energy is calculated at 125 kJ mol^?1. At ～860 K nitrogen desorbs. The rate of this desorption has been measured by AES and by quantitative thermal desorption. It is shown that the desorption of N₂ is first order and that the binding energy is 213 kJ mol^?1. The small increase in desorption temperature with increasing coverage is interpreted as due to an attractive interaction between adsorbed molecules of ～14 kJ mol^?1 for a monolayer. The (2 × 3) LEED pattern which persists from 500–800 K is shown to be associated with nitrogen only. The same pattern is obtained on a carbon contaminated crystal from which oxygen has desorbed as CO and CO₂. The (2 × 3) pattern has spots split along the (0.1) direction as $\text{(m,}\text{n}\text{3}\text{)}$ and $\text{(}\text{m}\text{2, n}\text{)}$. This is interpreted as domains of (2 × 3) structures separated by boundaries which give phase differences of $\text{2π}\text{3}$ and π. The split spots coalesce as the nitrogen starts to desorb. A (2 × 1) pattern due to adsorbed oxygen was then observed to 1100 K when the oxygen dissolved in the crystal leaving the nickel (110) pattern.     

AES study of nickel carburization: Electron beam-induced effects

A preliminary study of the CO/CO₂ carburization of (111) Ni at 217°C and 1 × 10^?6 Torr total pressure by Auger electron spectroscopy was undertaken. It was found that electron beam (～20 μA, ～2500 μA/cm², 3 kV) induced effects were significant for CO and CO₂ adsorbed on the nickel surface; these effects could be factored out by using delayed beam techniques. The electron-induced reactions were similar in both cases and plots of normalized carbon peak height versus time could be characterized by the equation $\text{C = A(1-}\text{e}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>t</mtext><mtext>\tau </mtext>}}$) were τ_CO = 32.0 min , A_CO = 206.2, τ_CO2 = 39.8 min, A_CO2 = 176.2. Observed oxygen peaks were smaller than expected. The evidence of several researchers suggests electron beam induced dissociation of CO and CO₂ followed by electron beam induced desorption of the resulting oxygen. Reactant gas interaction with the electron gun cathode was significant with resulting beam movements causing scatter in AES peak height measurements.     

Effects of preadsorbed oxygen on the formation and decomposition of NCO on Rh(111) surfaces

The interaction of HNCO with oxygen dosed Rh(111) surface has been investigated by Auger electron, electron energy loss and thermal desorption spectroscopy. The presence of adsorbed oxygen exerted no apparent influence on the weakly adsorbed HNCO (T_p = 130 K). It promoted, however, the dissociative adsorption of HNCO by forming a strong O—H bond which prevented the associative desorption of HNCO. As a result no H₂ and NH₃ formation occurred, in contrast with the clean surface, and the surface concentration of irreversibly bonded NCO was also increased. New products of the surface reaction were H₂O and CO₂, in addition to CO and N₂ observed on a clean surface. From the behavior of the losses characteristic for the adsorbed NCO it appeared that the preadsorbed oxygen exerted a significant stabilizing effect on the NCO bonded to the Rh.     

Vibrational characterization of carbon monoxide adsorption on sulfur modified Ni(100) surfaces

Carbon monoxide adsorption has been studied on a series of presulfided Ni(100) surfaces using vibrational spectroscopy. The sulfided Ni(100) surfaces were characterized using Auger electron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction, binding states were isolated by heating CO-dosed surfaces to prescribed temperatures, corresponding to the desorption temperatures of the CO. Adsorption of CO on Ni(100) with a p(2 × 2) array of sulfur lead to CO stretching frequencies of 1740 and 1930 cm^?1 corresponding to desorption temperatures of 370 and 290 K, respectively. Adsorption of CO into the c(2 × 2)S structure resulted in a CO stretching frequency of 2115 cm^?1 and a desorption peak near 140 K. The binding sites on the p(2 × 2)S structure were interpreted as metal four-fold hollows and bridging sites. The high frequency state was interpreted as weak bonding into the four-fold hollow with back donation into the π¹ orbital on CO restricted by stearic hindrance due to adsorbed sulfur. Both the thermal desorption and vibrational results indicated that local CO-sulfur interactions are dominant on the presulfided Ni(100) surface in the coverage range studied.     

Chemisorption and dissociation of carbon monoxide on rhodium surfaces

The adsorption, desorption and decomposition of CO on Rh surfaces have been investigated using field emission microscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Thermal dissociation of CO cannot be detected on clean Rh surfaces at pressures up to 10^?1 Torr and temperatures below 1000 K. This holds also for atomically rough surfaces like (210). CO dissociation can be promoted under the influence of an electron beam directed to the surface, a high electric field in the presence of CO in the gas phase and by means of discharge techniques. The growth of crystallites formed by CO dissociation and the diffusion of carbon into the bulk has been followed as a function of temperature and surface structure. The tip regions around (110) are very active in these processes. Carbon crystallites on these surfaces disappear around 1000 K by diffusion into the lattice whereas crystallites present around (311) surfaces persist up to 1150 K. The results are discussed in relation to the activity of Rh in CO/H₂ reactions.     

Size-dependent electron-impact detachment of internally cold Cn- and Aln- clusters

The cross sections for electron detachment of internally cold Cn- and Aln- clusters were measured using an electrostatic ion beam trap fitted with an internal electron target. The measured electron-impact detachment cross sections for the Cn- (n = 1-9) clusters exhibit even-odd oscillations reflecting the binding energy trend, namely, higher cross sections for weaker binding. Surprisingly, however, these cross sections increase on the average with cluster size, n, in spite of the increase in electron binding. In contrast, the Aln- (n = 2-5) clusters follow the known scaling laws for electron detachment. We suggest that the size-dependent polarizability of these clusters is responsible for the observed behavior.     

CO adsorption and dissociation on iron oxide supported Pt particles

We studied CO adsorption on Pt particles deposited on well-ordered Fe₃O₄(1 1 1) thin films grown on Pt(1 1 1) by temperature programmed desorption (TPD). A highly stepped Pt(1 1 1) surface produced by ion sputtering and annealing at 600 K was studied for comparison. Structural characterization was performed by scanning tunneling microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. The TPD spectra revealed that in addition to the desorption peaks at ∼400 and 480 K, assigned to CO adsorbed on Pt(1 1 1) facets and low-coordination sites respectively, the Pt nanoparticles annealed at 600 K exhibit a desorption state at ∼270 K. This state is assigned to initial stages of strong metal support interaction resulting in partial Fe-Pt intermixing. On both Pt/Fe₃O₄(1 1 1) and stepped Pt(1 1 1) surfaces CO is found to dissociate at 500 K. The results suggest that CO dissociation and carbon accumulation occur on the low-coordinated Pt sites.     

Effects of potassium on the adsorption and dissociation of CH3Cl on Pd(100)

The effects of potassium on the adsorption and dissociation of CH₃Cl on a Pd(100) surface has been investigated by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), electron energy loss spectroscopy (in the electronic range EELS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and work function change. In contrast to the clean surface, the adsorption of CH₃Cl caused a significant work function increase, 0.9-1.4 eV, of potassium-dosed Pd. Preadsorbed K enhanced the binding energy of CH₃C1 to the surface and induced the dissociation of adsorbed molecules. The extent of the dissociation increased almost linearly with the potassium content. The appearance of a new emission in the UPS spectrum at 9.2 eV, attributed to adsorbed CH₃ species, and the low-temperature formation of ethane suggest that a fraction of adsorbed CH₃Cl dissociates even at 115–125 K on potassium-dosed Pd(100). At the same time, a significant part of adsorbed CH₃ radical is stabilized, the reaction of which occurs only at 250–300 K. By means of TPD measurements, H₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, KCl and K were detected in the desorbing gases. The results are interpreted by assuming a through-metal electronic interaction at low potassium coverage and by a direct interaction of the Cl in the adsorbed CH₃Cl with potassium at high potassium coverage. The latter proposal is supported by the electron excited Auger fine structure of the Cl signal and by the formation of KCl in the desorbing gases.     

Electron beam induced effects on gas adsorption utilizing auger electron spectroscopy: Co and O2 on Si: I. Adsorption studies

The effect of electron beam monitored gas adsorption on the clean Si surface is studied using Auger electron spectroscopy. It is shown that the beam affects the AES adsorption signal of CO and O₂ on Si by dissociating the adsorbed molecules on the surface and subsequently promoting diffusion of atomic oxygen into the bulk. A qualitative explanation of the adsorption data is presented and the initial sticking probability of O₂ on Si (111) surface is estimated to be S0 = 0.21.     

Excitation of molecular vibrations by positron impact

Absolute cross sections for the vibrational excitation of CO, CO2, and H2 by positron impact are presented for incident positron energies from 0.5 eV to several electron volts. The measurements use a novel technique that exploits the adiabatic motion of a positron beam in a strong magnetic field. This work is the first systematic experimental study of vibrational excitation by positron impact, and extends to energies where positron measurements have traditionally been difficult. The measured cross sections are compared with available theoretical calculations.     

Desorption of atomic particles and surface modification of fluorides under electron irradiation

Low-energy electron stimulated desorption (ESD) and surface modifications of CaF₂ and BaF₂ single crystals were experimentally studied at different surface temperatures. A technique based on the dependence of the surface composition on the electron irradiation dose was applied to determining the ESD cross section. The surface composition was measured by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Surface topography was examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The ESD mechanisms for fluorides were discussed.