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Chemisorbed CO site interconversion on Ni(111) induced by the electric field of physisorbed second layers

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.462147· OSTI ID:5423205
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Surface Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 (United States)
  2. Department of Physics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5 (Canada)

A new and general phenomenon related to the electrical polarization of a condensed layer has been observed: A polar overlayer physisorbed on top of a chemisorbed CO layer on Ni(111) causes a CO site interconversion from terminally bound CO to bridged bound CO species in the CO underlayer. It has been found that the site interconversion observed is independent of the molecular identity of the physisorbed overlayer, but is closely related to the work-function decrease induced by the polarized overlayer. This phenomenon is explained in terms of the interaction of CO with a very strong electric field, which is of the order of 0.3 V/A, produced by the polarized overlayers. The electric field causes a rehybridization of underlayer chemisorbed CO species producing a redistribution of CO molecules to different adsorption sites on Ni(111).

OSTI ID:
5423205
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States) Vol. 96:2; ISSN JCPSA; ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English