The translational energy of desorbing products in NO and N2O decomposition on Pd (110)

N2 emission in NO and N2O reduction on Rh(100) and Rh(110)

The angular distribution of desorbing N(2) was studied in both the thermal decomposition of N(2)O(a) on Rh(100) at 60-140 K and the steady-state NO (or N(2)O) + D(2) reaction on Rh(100) and Rh(110) at 280-900 K. In the former, N(2) desorption shows two peaks at around 85 and 110 K. At low N(2)O coverage, the desorption at 85 K collimates at about 66 degrees off normal towards the [001] direction, whereas at high coverage, it sharply collimates along the surface normal. In the NO reduction on Rh(100), the N(2) desorption preferentially collimates at around 71 degrees off normal towards the [001] direction below about 700 K, whereas it collimates predominantly along the surface normal at higher temperatures. At lower temperatures, the surface nitrogen removal in the NO reduction is due to the process of NO(a) + N(a) --> N(2)O(a) --> N(2)(g) + O(a). On the other hand, in the steady-state N(2)O + D(2) reaction on Rh(110), the N(2) desorption collimates closely along the [001] direction (close to the surface parallel) below 340 K and shifts to ca. 65 degrees off normal at higher temperatures. In the reduction with CO, the N(2) desorption collimates along around 65 degrees off normal towards the [001] direction above 520 K, and shifts to 45 degrees at 445 K with decreasing surface temperature. It is proposed that N(2)O is oriented along the [001] direction on both surfaces before dissociation and the emitted N(2) is not scattered by adsorbed hydrogen.

The collimation angle shift of desorbing product N2 in a steady-state N2O+CO reaction on Rh(110)

The angular distribution of desorbing product N2 was studied in N2O decompositions on Rh(110) in the temperature range of 60-700 K. The N2 desorption collimates along 62 degrees -68 degrees off normal toward either the [001] or [001] direction in a transient N2O decomposition below ca. 470 K or in the steady-state N2O+CO reaction above 540 K. In the steady-state reaction at the temperature from ca. 470 to 540 K, however, the collimation angle shifts from 62 degrees to 45 degrees with decreasing surface temperature. This angle shift is ascribed to the steric hindrance by coadsorbed CO because the N2 collimation in transient N2O decomposition at around 65 degrees is recovered in the range of 380-500 K by an abrupt CO pressure drop followed by the decrease in CO coverage. N2O is oriented along the [001] direction before dissociation. A scattering model of the nascent N2 by adsorbed CO is proposed, yielding smaller collimation angles.

Spatial distributions of desorbing products in steady-state NO and N2O reductions on Pd(110)

The angular and velocity distributions of desorbing product N(2) were examined over the crystal azimuth in steady-state NO+CO and N(2)O+CO reactions on Pd(110) by cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. At surface temperatures below 600 K, N(2) desorption in both reactions splits into two directional lobes collimated along 41 degrees -45 degrees from the surface normal toward the [001] and [001] directions. Above 600 K, the normally directed N(2) desorption is enhanced in the NO reduction. Each product desorption component, as well as CO(2), shows a fairly asymmetric distribution about its collimation axis. Two factors, i.e., the anisotropic site structures and the reactant orientation and movements, are operative to induce such asymmetry, depending on the product emission mechanism.

Kinetics and dynamics of N2 formation in a steady-state N2O + CO reaction on Pd(110)

The N(2)O decomposition kinetics and the product (N(2) and CO(2)) desorption dynamics were studied in the course of a catalyzed N(2)O+CO reaction on Pd(110) by angle-resolved mass spectroscopy combined with cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. The reaction proceeded steadily above 400 K, and the kinetics was switched at a critical CO/N(2)O pressure ratio. The ratio was about 0.03 at 450 K and reached approximately 0.08 at higher temperatures. Below it, the reaction was first order in CO, and negative orders above it. Throughout the surveyed conditions, the N(2) desorption sharply collimated along about 45 degrees off the normal toward the [001] direction. Desorbing N(2) showed translational temperatures in the range of 2000-5000 K. It is proposed that the decomposition proceeds in N(2)O(a) oriented along the [001] direction. On the other hand, the CO(2) desorption sharply collimated along the surface normal, showing a translational temperature of about 1600 K.

Collision-induced desorption in 193-nm photoinduced reactions in (O2+CO) adlayers on Pt(112)

The spatial distribution of desorbing O(2) and CO(2) was examined in 193-nm photoinduced reactions in O(2)+CO adlayers on stepped Pt (112)=[(s)3(111)x(001)]. The O(2) desorption collimated in inclined ways in the plane along the surface trough, confirming the hot-atom collision mechanism. In the presence of CO(a), the product CO(2) desorption also collimated in an inclined way, whereas the inclined O(2) desorption was suppressed. The inclined O(2) and CO(2) desorption is explained by a common collision-induced desorption model. At high O(2) coverage, the CO(2) desorption collimated closely along the (111) terrace normal.

Spatial distributions of desorbing products in basic catalytic processes and surface nano-structures

Reviews of recent progress in angle-resolved measurements of desorbing surface reaction products are discussed. The angular and velocity distributions of desorbing products deliver information about the reaction site as well as the reaction mechanism when the products are repulsively desorbed. These distribution measurements can yield symmetry and orientation information of the reaction site for associative processes whereas, in dissociative desorption, the collimation of fragment desorption is related to the orientation of the intermediate species immediately before dissociation. These different collimations provide information on desorption steps whenever any step becomes rate determining.

Surface-nitrogen removal in a steady-state NO + H2 reaction on Pd(110)

Surface-nitrogen removal steps were analyzed in the course of a catalyzed NO + H(2) reaction on Pd(110) by angle-resolved mass spectroscopy combined with cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. Four removal steps, i.e., (i) the associative process of nitrogen atoms, 2N(a) --> N(2)(g), (ii) the decomposition of the intermediate, NO(a) + N(a) --> N(2)O(a) --> N(2)(g) + O(a), (iii) its desorption, N(2)O(a) --> N(2)O(g), and (iv) the desorption as ammonia, N(a) + 3H(a) --> NH(3)(g), are operative in a comparable order. Above 600 K, process (i) is predominant, whereas the others largely contribute below 600 K. Process (iv) becomes significant at H(2) pressures above a critical value, about half the NO pressure. Hydrogen was a stronger reagent than CO toward NO reduction and relatively enhanced the N(a) associative process.

A density-functional theory study of the interaction of N2O with Rh(110)

The adsorption of nitrous oxide, N2O, on a Rh110 surface has been characterized by using density-functional theory. N2O was found to bind to the surface in two alternative forms. The first, less stable form is tilted with the terminal N atom attached to the surface, while the second, more stable form lies horizontally on the surface. Adsorption on the on-top site is more stable than that on the bridge site. The tilted form remains linear on adsorption, while the horizontal form is bent, with the terminal-nitrogen and oxygen atoms pointing towards the surface. At lower adsorbate coverage, Theta less than or similar to 1/4 ML (ML-monolayer), the adsorption of a few horizontal N2O configurations is dissociative, i.e., N2O-->N2(a)+O(a). The N2O-surface interaction is discussed in terms of the electronic structure analysis.

Inclined N2 desorption in N2O reduction by D2 and CO on Pd(110)

Inclined N2 desorption was examined in the course of a catalyzed N2O + D2 (or CO) reaction on Pd(110) by angle-resolved mass spectroscopy combined with cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. N2 desorption collimated at around 45 degrees off the normal toward the [001] direction in the temperature range of 400-800 K. Its collimation angle and kinetic energy were insensitive to both the surface temperature and surface conditions throughout the kinetic transition. It is proposed that this peculiar N2 desorption is induced by the decomposition of N2O oriented along the [001] direction.

Inclined N2 Desorption in a Steady-State N2O + CO Reaction on Pd(110)

The angular and velocity distributions of desorbing products were analyzed in the course of a catalyzed N2O + CO reaction on Pd(110). The reaction proceeded steadily above 450 K, and the N2 desorption merely collimated sharply along 45 degrees off the surface normal toward the [001] direction. It is proposed that this peculiar N2 desorption is induced by the decomposition of adsorbed N2O oriented along the [001] direction. On the basis of the observation of similar inclined N2 desorption in both NO + CO and N2O + CO reactions, the N2 formation via the intermediate N2Oa dissociation was confirmed in catalytic NO reduction.