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The adsorption of hydrocarbons on platinum studied by low-energy electron diffraction intensities. The ordered (2 x 2) overlayers of acetylene and ethylene on the (111) crystal face of platinum

Journal Article · · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.434162· OSTI ID:7316850

The intensities of the low-energy electron diffraction beams back-scattered from the ordered (2 x 2) overlayers of acetylene and ethylene on the platinum (111) crystal face are measured by a photographic technique. The intensities are presented in an appendix in the form of normalized diffraction beam intensity versus incident electron energy (I-V curves). Acetylene spontaneously forms the ordered (2 x 2) adsorbate on platinum at 300 K and low exposure under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The intensity profiles reveal that this structure is metastable; and upon heating to 350--400 K for 1 hr it undergoes a transformation to a stable structure with the same (2 x 2) unit cell size. The acetylene transformation is thought to involve a strengthening of the carbon--platinum bond accompanied by an expansion of the carbon--carbon bond length. Ethylene adsorbes on the platinum (111) surface and with electron beam exposure forms an ordered (2 x 2) surface structure that is identical to the stable acetylene structure as shown by the intensity profiles.

Research Organization:
Materials and Molecular Research Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
OSTI ID:
7316850
Journal Information:
J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 66:5; ISSN JCPSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English