The orientation of formate and carbonate on ZnO(101̄0)

Polarisation dependent CK-edge NEXAFS spectra of carbonate and formate species on ZnO(101̄0) indicate that both species are aligned by the substrate. The carbonate species, formed by adsorption of CO₂, is oriented with its molecular plane close to the [0001] azimuth. This suggests a bond geometry in which one O atom of CO²⁻₃ is in the substrate, and a second interacts with a surface cation, consistent with the results of previous cluster calculations. In contrast, the formate species, formed by adsorption of formic acid, is not azimuthally ordered, although the molecular rotation axis is aligned close to the surface normal, consistent with bidentate bonding to a single cation.     

The reactivity of the clean and contaminated (0001̄) polar and the (101̄0) prism ZnO surfaces to chlorine

The reactivities of the (0001̄) and (101̄O) surfaces of zinc oxide to chlorine gas have been studied by a range of techniques. In the case of the (0001̄) oxygen polar surface investigations were made with the surface both atomically clean and with a known level of carbon and calcium contamination. Comparison is made with our earlier results on the (0001) surface which showed a high level of reactivity due to the increased electrostatic stability on adsorption of the electronegative gas. Both the oxygen polar and the prism surface showed a much lower reactivity to chlorine than the zinc face: contamination by carbon and calcium on the former surface reduced the reactivities still further. This result conflicts with comparable data for oxygen adsorption where previous work has shown a greater take-up of oxygen on the oxygen face than the zinc face. Unlike the zinc face, no LEED superstructures were observed on any of, the three surfaces, but in common with the (0001) there were significant electron beam desorption effects. Two states could be identified: one was rapidly removed in ~10 μA min exposure to the beam, the other in much longer periods. Work function and ELS data were consistent with atomic adsorption of chlorine on all surfaces. An exception was the (101̄O) at high exposures where a work function decrease took place following the initial increase: this may indicate a second molecular state.     

The adsorption of CO on Cu surfaces studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (ELS) in the energy range of electronic transitions (primary energy 30 < E₀ < 50 eV, resolution ΔE ≈ 0.3 eV) has been used to study the adsorption of CO on polycrystalline surfaces and on the low index faces (100), (110), (111) of Cu at 80 K. Also LEED patterns were investigated and thermal desorption was analyzed by means of the temperature dependence of three losses near 9, 12 and 14 eV characteristic for adsorbed CO. The 12 and 14 eV losses occur on all Cu surfaces in the whole coverage range; they are interpreted in terms of intramolecular transitions of the CO. The 9 eV loss is sensitive to the crystallographic type of Cu surface and to the coverage with CO. The interpretation in terms of d(Cu) → 2π¹(CO) charge transfer transitions allows conclusions concerning the adsorption site geometry. The ELS results are consistent with information obtained from LEED. On the (100) surface CO adsorption enhances the intensity of a bulk electronic transition near 4 eV at E₀ < 50 eV. This effect is interpreted within the framework of dielectric theory for surface scattering on the basis of the Cu electron energy band scheme.     

The decomposition of formic acid on Ru(101&#x0304;0)

The decomposition of formic acid was studied on a clean Ru(101&#x0304;0) surface adsorption temperature between 100 and 460 K by means of flash thermal desorption. The decomposition products observed were H₂, CO₂, H₂O and CO. HCOOH itself was also desorbed, although at low exposures no formic acid was observed. The H₂ and CO₂ products were desorbed in identical first order peaks, with a peak temperature of 395 K. The H₂O product desorbed in a second order peak at 813 K, in contrast to H₂O desorption from low coverage H₂O adsorption which occurs in two peaks in the region of 220 and 265 K. The CO product desorbed in a first order peak at 488 K, identical to CO from CO adsorption. The dependence of the product peaks on adsorption temperature of the Ru surface was also studied. These results suggest a model involving the formation and decomposition of a surface intermediate species.     

Atomic relaxation of the BeO (101&#x0304;0) surface

The atomic relaxation of the nonpolar (101&#x0304;0) surface of BeO has been calculated by minimizing the surface energy within the framework of the ab initio Hartree-Fock method. A six-layer two-dimensionally periodic slab model was used, permitting a full symmetry-conserving relaxation of the two outer layers. The BeO surface bonds show a small rotation angle of about 4 accompanied by a large (about 10%) reduction in surface bond length. Significant contraction of backbonds and a small rotation of second layer bonds are also found. The relaxed BeO (101&#x0304;0) surface is thus predicted to be similar to the ZnO (101&#x0304;0) surface but different from the corresponding surfaces of all other II–VI compounds. Various explanations for this difference are discussed, and evidence from a bond population analysis is presented which suggests that this behavior can be described in terms of partial double bond character in the surface bonds. Since multiple bonding is related to small atomic radii, it would follow that the small radius of the oxygen atom is the ultimate cause of the type of surface relaxation we predict.     

Iodine etching of the GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;)As surface studied by LEED,AES, and mass spectroscopy

The iodine interaction with the GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;)As surface prepared by molecular beam epitaxy has been studied by LEED, LEED intensity measurements, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and computer controlled mass spectroscopic study of the whole desorption spectrum. It is shown that an iodine beam hitting the GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;)As face at 300 K under UHV conditions etches the surface continuously. After this etching there remains an adsorbate of GaI_x where x is a number between 0 and 3. By thermal desorption of this GaI_x adsorbate an As stabilized GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;)As surface showing a (2 × 2) structure can be prepared, which up to the present could be done only by molecular beam epitaxy.     

Very low energy electron reflection at Cu(001) surfaces

Measurements of the coefficient of elastic reflection of very low energy electrons at Cu(001), Cu(001) (2 × 4)45°O and Cu(001)c(2 × 2)N surfaces are reported. The measurements refer to normally-incident electrons with kinetic energies E in the range 0.5–22 eV. The elastic reflection coefficient R_el was determined from separate observations of the total reflection coefficient and of the energy distribution of reflected electrons. For Cu(001) R_el is 0.55 at E = 0.5 eV and drops monotonically to 0.03 with increasing E, the maximum slope being at E = 3 eV. Theoretical calculations of R_el are reported. The reflection amplitude of the substrate crystal was parameterized using existing results of accurate band structure calculations, and the surface scattering matrix was evaluated for assumed surface scattering potentials. It is shown that to fit the observed R_el it is necessary to take account of both the image potential and the extension of the imaginary part of the crystal scattering potential into vacuum. From the fit, the range of the imaginary potential is 1.0 Å. For Cu(001) (2 × 4)45°O and Cu(001)c(2 × 2)N the values of R_el at E = 0.5 eV were 0.35 and 0.15, respectively. The effect of adsorption in reducing R_el is especially marked for E < 2 eV. Adsorption of either O or N results in an additional peak in R_el near E = 12 eV.     

The adsorption of oxygen and carbon monoxide on cleaved polar and nonpolar ZnO surfaces studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (ELS) with primary energies e₀ ? 80 eV has been performed on ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) cleaved nonpolar (11?00) and polar zinc (0001) and oxygen (0001?) surfaces of ZnO to study the adsorption of oxygen and carbon monoxide. Except for CO on the nonpolar surface where no spectral changes in ELS are observed a surface transition near 11.5 eV is strongly affected at 300 K on all surfaces by CO and O₂. At 300 K clear evidence for new adsorbate characteristic transitions is found for oxygen adsorbed on the Zn polar surface near 7 and 11 eV. At 100 K on all three surfaces both CO and O₂ adsorb in thick layers and produce loss spectra very similar to the gas phase, thus indicating a physisorbed state.     

The effect of hydrogen chemisorption on GaAs(100) and GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;)

The interaction of hydrogen with the polar (100) and (1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;) surfaces of GaAs has been studied with LEED, angle-resolved photoemission and core level spectroscopy. It was found that the properties of the hydrogen-covered surface were independent of the composition of the initial surface. The core levels also showed an increase in the surface As concentration for initially Ga-rich surfaces. Angle-resolved photoemission results for GaAs(100) and GaAs(100):H are presented and the dispersion of a hydrogen-induced state is shown.     

Room temperature hydrogenation of the Si(001)2 × 1 surface studied by angle-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy

We observed the hydrogen adsorption on the Si(001)2 × 1 surface achieved at room temperature by angle-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (AR-ELS) and elastic low-energy electron diffraction. From measurements of the intensities of elastically diffracted beams, we found a characteristic hydrogen covered surface (called Si(001)2 × 1H(RT) surface in this paper), where all the diffracted beam intensities were enhanced drastically and a sharp 2 × 1 LEED pattern was observed. The angular dependence of the elastically diffracted beams on the 2 × 1H(RT) surface was different from that on the monohydride 2 × 1:H surface. On the 2 × 1H(RT) surface the S₃, transition from the back bond surface state disappeared in contrary to the 2 × 1:H surface and two hydrogen induced transitions were observed at 7.0 and 8.0 eV in AR-ELS spectra. We revealed that the 2 × 1H(RT) surface consisted of the monohydride and the dihydride phases with comparable weights. Additionally, we found the new transition S'₁, ascribed to the newly produced dangling bond surface state due to the rupture of the dimerization bond with hydrogen adsorption.     

Cu/ZnO(0001&#x0304;) and ZnOx/Cu(111): Model catalysts for methanol synthesis

In an attempt to understand the relative importance of the various constituents of copper-zinc oxide catalysts for methanol synthesis (2H₂ + CO → H₃COH), we have prepared and characterized a number of single-crystal surface structures of Cu-ZnO. The model catalysts have also been tested in terms of their activity for methanol synthesis. The growth of vapor-deposited Cu overlayers on a ZnO(0001&#x0304;) (O face) single crystal has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), He⁺ ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The results are consistent with a growth model in which, at room temperature, the first monolayer spreads uniformly across the surface in a p(1 × 1) structure. As more Cu is added, thick Cu(111) islands grow and these are separated by large regions of the p(1 × 1)-Cu monolayer. The Cu(111) islands are rotationally aligned with the ZnO substrate, and at high enough coverages grow together to cover the ZnO. Increasing temperature favors more agglomeration. A clean Cu(111) crystal and one containing a ZnO_x (x ⋍ 3) monolayer were also studied. None of these model catalysts gave rates of methanol production which were measurable in our present experimental limits (TOF < 2 × 10⁻³ molecules site⁻¹ s⁻¹) at 500–600 K and CO + H₂ pressures up to 1500 Torr. Under these “reaction” conditions, the Cu in direct contact with ZnO may be slightly oxidized; all the other Cu is completely metallic. The Cu does not change its character between deposition and reaction conditions, even if heavily oxidized to CuO in between. The addition of CO₂ at very high levels under reaction conditions does not change the character of a Cu(111) model catalyst surface, and no surface oxygen is ever observable after treatment under reaction conditions.     

The MgO(001) surface studied by helium diffraction

The diffraction of He atoms at thermal energy (~64 meV) from the (001) cleavage plane of MgO was studied. A hard-wall intensity analysis of in-plane spectra obtained at near normal incident angles and in the main azimuthal planes yields the corrugation function, which is simply sinusoidal in both unit-cell directions with a total corrugation amplitude of 0.47 ± 0.02 Å. This value is larger than the one previously reported by K.H. Rieder. A more detailed study of the surface is in progress.     

The adsorption of fluor-carbon complexes on GaAs(110) studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy

The room temperature adsorption of CF₃COOH, CH₃COOH and CO on cleaved GaAs(110) surfaces has been studied by vibrational electron energy loss spectroscopy (HRELS), second derivative electron energy spectroscopy (ELS) and electron diffraction (LEED). CO does not adsorb on the GaAs surfaces in measurable quantities. Acetic acid CH₃COOH is dissociatively adsorbed as an acetate bonded to Ga surface atoms with the split-off hydrogen on As surface atoms. The fluorated acid CF₃COOH decomposes via an acetate intermediate CF₃COO into active CF₃ groups which adsorb on Ga surface atoms. The split-off hydrogen sticks to surface As atoms while the generated CO₂ desorbs. The adsorption models are consistent with the LEED c(2×2) superstructure observed after saturated adsorption of both acids.     

An electron energy loss spectroscopy study of the conductivity of polar ZnO surfaces

The surface conductivity of the polar ZnO faces was changed by exposure to H and O₂, by Ar ion bombardment and by heat treatments. Simultaneous studies of the corresponding Electron Energy Loss Spectra in the range 3–20 eV surprisingly indicated that the lowest energy state, at 3 eV, was not involved in these conductivity changes. The only states that could be involved were at 5.3 and 14.3 eV.     

Adsorption and decomposition of HNCO on Cu(111) surface studied by auger electron,electron energy loss and thermal desorption spectroscopy

No detectable adsorbed species were observed after exposure of HNCO to a clean Cu(111) surface at 300 K. The presence of adsorbed oxygen, however, exerted a dramatic influence on the adsorptive properties of this surface and caused the dissociative adsorption of HNCO with concomitant release of water. The adsorption of HNCO at 300 K produced two new strong losses at 10.4 and 13.5 eV in electron energy loss spectra, which were not observed during the adsorption of either CO or atomic N. These loses can be attributed to surface NCO on Cu(111). The surface isocyanate was stable up to 400 K. The decomposition in the adsorbed phase began with the evolution of CO₂. The desorption of nitrogen started at 700 K. Above 800 K, the formation of C₂N₂ was observed. The characteristics of the CO₂ formation and the ratios of the products sensitively depended on the amount of preadsorbed oxygen. No HNCO was desorbed as such, and neither NCO nor (NCO)₂ were detected during the desorption. From the comparison of adsorption and desorption behaviours of HNCO, N, CO and CO₂ on copper surfaces it was concluded that NCO exists as such on a Cu(111) surface at 300 K. The interaction of HNCO with oxygen covered Cu(111) surface and the reactions of surface NCO with adsorbed oxygen are discussed in detail.     

The hydrogen chemisorption on TiC(111) surface studied by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy

At room temperature, hydrogen chemisorbs dissociatively on the three-fold hollow site of the TiC(111) surface with a sticking probability of ～ 0.5. The frequency of the stretching vibration of H is 1009 cm^-1, and the effective charge e¹ of hydrogen has been estimated to be 0.08 from the cross section of dipole scattering.     

Identification of adsorbed species at metal surfaces by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a surface analysis method for measuring vibrational spectra of adsorbed species on metal surfaces. This paper summarizes recent work on the study of bonding of simple adsorbates on metal surfaces, and the identification of new chemical intermediates in reactions between two or more species in the adsorbed monolayer. The spectra of atomic oxygen, di-oxygen, water and ammonia adsorbed on platinum, copper and silver are discussed with emphasis on identification of the adsorbed species and their orientations relative to the surface plane. Surface reactions between atomic oxygen and water, methanol and formic acid yield the new surface intermediates hydroxyl (OH), methoxy (CH₃O) and formate (HCOO), respectively, on copper and silver surfaces. Each species was identified by comparison of surface spectra with known infrared spectra and through the use of deuterium isotopic shifts. The ability to identify and distinguish between chemical species at surfaces with high sensitivity will allow direct correlation of low pressure UHV surface experiments with high pressure surface reactions on catalysts and liquid-solid interfaces.     

Angular resolved ups of surface states on GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;) prepared by molecular beam epitaxy

The As-rich (2 × 2), a newly found (√3 × √3) and the (√19 × √19) surfaces of GaAs(1&#x0304;1&#x0304;1&#x0304;) are studied by angular resolved UPS (ARUPS). The (2 × 2) surface is prepared by molecular beam epitaxy and the others by mild annealing. For the (2 × 2) surface emission from surface states is observed, which shows dispersion periodic within the (2 × 2) surface Brillouin zone. Using s-polarized light and the known symmetry selection rules the uppermost surface bands between 1 and 2 eV below the valence band maximum are assigned to the As dangling bond orbital. The bands near 4 and 7 eV assigned to the backbonds. From the strong decrease of emission intensity of the As-derived surface states between the (2 × 2) and the annealed surfaces it is concluded that the character of the As dangling bond orbital must have been changed from sp³-hybridic to s-like. This gives further evidence for our recently proposed model for the (√19 × √19) surface, which is particularly applicable for the (√3 × √3) surface.     

Atomic chemisorption of chlorine on Ag(110) studied by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy

We have studied atomic chemisorption at room temperature of chlorine on Ag(110) using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), supplemented by XPS and LEED. The ClAg vibration energy (around 25 meV) and the line-width of this loss peak show well resolved variations with both chlorine coverage and substrate temperature T. The observed shift with T is related to the anharmonicity of the potential. Based on the Morse potential we derive an anharmonicity parameter x_a = 6.2 × 10⁻² for the (2 × 1)Cl-overlayer. This indicates that the anharmonicity is enhanced by about a factor of two as compared to the bulk. In contrast, we find x_a < 0.2 × 10⁻² for c(4 × 2)Cl. By comparison to other data we conclude that the (2 × 1)Cl-phase is a simple overlayer, with no significant reconstruction of the topmost substrate layer.     

Structure determination of the clean Co(112&#x0304;0) surface by LEED

The atomic structure of the (112&#x0304;0) surface of cobalt has been determined by LEED using six intensity spectra at normal incidence. The surface exhibits the truncated bulk structure with a contraction of the first interlayer spacing by about 8.5% with respect to the bulk value. Quantitative evaluation of the LEED spectra was done using Zanazzi and Jona's and Pendry's r-factors. The minimum averaged r-factors are $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>ZJ</mtext>}}\text{= 0.09}$ and $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>P</mtext>}}\text{= 0.22}$. No change of the interatomic distances within the plane could be detected and no rearrangement of the surface structure takes place up to temperatures shortly below the transition temperature.