Femtosecond real-time probing of transition state dynamics in a surface photoreaction: Methyl desorption from CH{sub 3}I on MgO(100)
- Institute for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89069 Ulm (Germany)
A novel experimental approach to the investigation of surface adsorbate reaction dynamics is presented. The direct time-resolved monitoring of the surface reaction transition state and product formation dynamics were accomplished via pump-probe mass spectrometry. As an example, methyl iodide molecules adsorbed at submonolayer coverage on an ultrathin magnesia film on Mo(100) were photoexcited to the A-band by ultrafast laser pulse irradiation. Employing time-delayed multiphoton ionization the dynamics of the dissociative methyl iodide transition state and of the emerging methyl photoproduct could be detected with femtosecond resolution. The reaction times deduced from the temporal evolution of the methyl ion mass signal indicate a strong interaction of the methyl fragment with the substrate surface prior to desorption.
- OSTI ID:
- 21106198
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 129, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2953578; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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