Interactions between SO2 and NO on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2)

Interactions between S¹⁸O₂ and NO on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2) were studied using Fourier transform infra red reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS) combined with thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Adsorbed S¹⁸O₂ does not seem to have a preference for step sites on Pt(3 3 2). As such, the presence of S¹⁸O₂ molecules following exposures of ?1.6 L does not significantly block the subsequent adsorption of NO (?0.8 L) on these step sites. Adsorbed S¹⁸O₂ molecules undergo dissociation (S¹⁸O₂(a) → S¹⁸O(a) + ¹⁸O(a)) as the surface temperature is increased to 250 K and above, but the resultant ¹⁸O(a) further reacts with sulfur oxides (S¹⁸O₂(a) and S¹⁸O(a)) to form S¹⁸O_x (x > 2) species at ∼400 K and above. The S¹⁸O_x species desorb as S¹⁸O₂. Even though the presence of co-adsorbed S¹⁸O₂ suppresses NO dissociation and subsequent N₂ production, this effect is not significantly enhanced with increasing the exposures of S¹⁸O₂ in the range ?1.6 L; N₂ desorption is still detectable at an exposure of 1.6 L S¹⁸O₂, at which a considerable amount of S¹⁸O₂ desorption is detected.