Exploring the mechanism of NO–C2H4 reactions on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2)

Fourier transform infra red reflection–absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS), thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), and auger electron spectroscopy (AES), were employed to explore the mechanism of NO reduction in the presence of C₂H₄ on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2). Both NO–Pt and C₂H₄–Pt interactions are enhanced when NO and C₂H₄ are co-adsorbed on Pt(3 3 2). As a result, C₂H₄ is dissociated at surface temperatures as low as 150 K, and the N–O stretch band is weakened. The presence of post-exposed C₂H₄ leads NO desorption from steps to decrease significantly, but the same effect on NO desorption from terraces becomes appreciable only at higher post-exposures of C₂H₄, e.g., 0.6 L and 1.2 L, and proceeds to a much slighter extent. Auger spectra indicate that as a result of the reaction with O from NO dissociation, the amount of surface C species is greatly reduced when NO is post-exposed to a C₂H₄ adlayer. It is concluded that reduction of NO in the presence of C₂H₄ proceeds very effectively on the surface of the Pt(3 3 2), through a mechanism of NO dissociation and subsequent O removal. Following this mechanism, the significant dissociation of adsorbed NO molecules on steps at surface temperatures below 400 K, and subsequent rapid reaction between the resultant O and C-related species, accounts for the considerable amount of N₂ desorption at temperatures below 400 K.