A COLLISION-INDUCED REACTION - CO2 PRODUCTION ON O-2 AND CO COVERED PT(111)

Impingement of energetic Xe atoms on a coadsorbed CO+O-2 monolayer on Pt(111) induces two concurrent collision-induced reaction channels: (a ) formation of CO2 and (b) desorption of O-2 below the surface tempera ture where any thermal reaction occurs. We report measurements of the initial reaction probability, its energy dependence and the reaction k inetics. We also discuss the possible reaction mechanism for the colli sion-induced CO2 oxidation reaction. (C) 1996 American Institute of Ph ysics.