Structure of CO adsorbed on Ni (100)

The c(2 × 2) configuration of CO chemisorbed on Ni(100) has been examined by the dynamical LEED method of surface structure analysis. Experimental LEED intensity spectra of the (00), ($\text{1}\text{2}\text{1}\text{2}$) (10) and (11) LEED beams measured at 175 K are compared with the corresponding calculated spectra for two different CO potential constructions and a number of trial structures. The best agreement was found for a structure where the CO molecules sit directly above the Ni atoms with vertical spacings between the Ni and C and the C and O layers of 1.80 ± 0.10 A and 0.95 ± 0.10 Å respectively. It is proposed that the CO molecule is tipped over at an angle of 34° ± 10° with respect to the surface normal so that the actual carbon-oxygen bond length is close to the figure 1.15 Å found in Ni(CO)₄.