NEUTRALIZATION OF A PROTON AT ADSORBATE-COVERED METAL-SURFACES

Charge exchange between a proton and adatoms on the metal substrates h as been studied theoretically. The neutral fraction may increase or de crease, depending on the electronic environments of the adatom. The ne utral yield of a proton depends significantly on the interaction betwe en the adatom and the substrate metal. One remarkable aspect is the cr eative or destructive interference between two charge-exchange process es: one is the neutralization between the proton and the adatom, and t he other is the neutralization between the proton and the substrate me tal. Using the parameter values derived from molecular orbital calcula tions for cluster atoms, the remarkable interference effect is demonst rated.