skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Selected Molecular Surface Structures Determined by ModernLow-Energy Electron Diffraction

Journal Article · · Journal of Molecular Catalysis A - chemical
OSTI ID:899530

This article surveys a series of structural results obtained for the adsorption of small molecules (from CO to benzene) on the closest-packed metal surfaces by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Most of these results were obtained by detailed fitting of many structural parameters, primarily with automated tensor LEED. We discuss mainly qualitative aspects: adsorption sites, adsorbate orientation, molecular distortions and adsorbate-induced relaxations. Cases of special interest include: CO and NO monolayers adsorbed on metal surfaces, which require a revision of adsorption site assignments based on vibrational frequencies; various coadsorption structures exhibiting site changes due to the electron donor vs, acceptor character of the coadsorbates; intact di-sigma ethylene adsorbed in a disordered and asymmetrical manner on Pt(111); intact acetylene on MgO(100), the first molecular and also first physisorbed adsorption structure determined in detail on an oxide surface; and the surface of an ultra-thin ice film, exhibiting unusually large vibration amplitudes of the outermost molecules.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director, Office of Energy Research
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
899530
Report Number(s):
LBNL-40517; TRN: US200708%%194
Journal Information:
Journal of Molecular Catalysis A - chemical, Vol. 131, Issue 1-3; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 05/01/1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English