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Collision-induced migration of adsorbates on solid surfaces: an experimental approach
1Department of Physical Chemistry and the Farkas Center for Light Induced Processes, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Energetic collisions promote surface mobility of CO-K complexes on Ru(001), demonstrating collision-induced migration (CIM) at a 3 eV threshold. This finding is crucial for understanding high-pressure, high-temperature catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Heterogeneous Catalysis
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Collision-induced migration (CIM) is theorized to be important in high-pressure, high-temperature catalytic systems.
- Energetic particle collisions can enhance adsorbate surface mobility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate and quantify collision-induced migration (CIM) of adsorbates.
- To investigate the role of energetic collisions in surface mobility for heterogeneous catalysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a supersonic beam-surface collision setup.
- Employed in-situ optical second harmonic generation diffraction from a coverage grating.
- Studied CO-K surface complex mobility on Ru(001) using Kr seeded in He collisions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that energetic Kr collisions promote CO-K surface complex mobility on Ru(001).
- Determined a threshold total kinetic energy of 3 eV for CIM.
- Observed an average migration distance exceeding 30 adsorption sites per collision at 3.8 eV Kr energy.
- Proposed a cascade migration mechanism driven by collision momentum.
Conclusions:
- Collision-induced migration (CIM) is experimentally verified in a realistic catalytic system.
- Energetic collisions significantly enhance adsorbate surface mobility, impacting catalytic processes.
- The cascade migration mechanism explains long-range adsorbate movement induced by collisions.
