Intramolecular motion during stimulated surface processes

Journal Article · Mon Jun 13 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.3895· OSTI ID:7295874

Burns, A R; Jennison, D R; Stechel, E B ^[1]; Li, Y S ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-0344 (United States)
2. Biosym Technologies, Inc., San Diego, California 92121-3752 (United States)

Ammonia and deuterated ammonia exhibit an anomalously large isotope effect in their relative yields and rotational spinning energy for electron-stimulated desorption from Pt(111). Quantum-resolved desorption measurements and [ital ab] [ital initio], two-dimensional, potential energy calculations suggest that the desorbate undergoes a geometry change (molecular inversion) induced by the excited state. Inverted molecules deexcite to a repulsive hard wall potential and desorb. In general, [ital multidimensional] potential energy surfaces determine the dynamics of stimulated surface processes.

• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 7295874
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 72:24; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665000* -- Physics of Condensed Matter-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISORPTION
DESORPTION
DEUTERIDES
DEUTERIUM COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FREE ENERGY
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE EFFECTS
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION
SURFACE ENERGY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS