The reduction of NO with D2 over the (110) surface of iridium

The heterogeneously catalyzed reaction between NO and D₂ to produce N₂, ND₃ and D₂O over Ir(110) was investigated under ultra-high vacuum conditions for partial pressures of the reactants between 5 × 10^?8 and 1 × 10^?6Torr, total pressures between 10^?7 and 10^?6 Torr, and surface temperatures between 300 and 1000 K. Mass spectrometry, LEED, UPS, XPS and AES measurements were used to study this reacting system. In addition, the competitive coadsorption of NO and deuterium was investigated via thermal desorption mass spectrometry and contact potential difference measurements to gain further insight into the observed steady state rates of reaction. Depending on the ratio of partial pressures ($\text{R }\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}{}_2\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>NO</mtext>}}$), the rate of reduction of NO to N₂ shows a pronounced enhancement when the surface is heated above a critical temperature. As the surface is cooled, the rate maintains a high value independent of temperature until a lower critical temperature is reached, where the rate drops precipitously. This hysteresis is due to a change in the structure and composition of the surface. For sufficiently large values of R and for an “activated” surface, N₂ and ND₃ are produced competitively between 470 and 630 K. Empirical models of the different regimes of the steady state reaction are presented with interpretations of these models.