The adsorption of molecular oxygen species on Ag(110)

The adsorption of oxygen on the Ag(110) surface was examined at temperatures down to 123 K. In addition to the dissociatively adsorbed state which desorbed at 590 K, a second oxygen state desorbed at 190 K following adsorption at 150 K and below. This high temperature state appeared to form prior to the development of the low temperature state. The ratio of coverages of the two states was a strong function of both exposure and adsorption temperature. Isotopic exchange experiments indicated that the low temperature state was molecularly adsorbed. The desorption of the molecularly adsorbed oxygen exhibited complex kinetics due to interaction with adsorbed oxygen atoms.