THE ADSORPTION OF N2O ON CLEAN AND CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED RU(001) SURFACES

The adsorption of N2O on clean, oxygen, deuterium and carbon monoxide modified Ru(001) surfaces was investigated. On the clean surface, thre e adsorption states have been observed, desorbing at 160-165, 145 and 116-123 K, respectively. On the oxygen modified surface, the presence of oxygen shifts the N2O desorption temperature from 129 K (on a clean surface) to a higher temperature of 173 K (theta(0) =0.12). The enhan ced adsorption of N2O on partially O-covered Ru(001) was also observed . However, on D- and CO-precovered surfaces, the N2O adsorption is des tabilized. These results can be accounted for by considering the ''thr ough-metal'' and the lateral interactions between coadsorbates.