ADSORPTION-KINETICS AND EQUILIBRIA ON RECONSTRUCTIBLE SURFACES

A kinetic model, originally formulated by Landsberg for chemisorption on or oxidation of reconstructable surfaces, is generalized to provide an equilibrium and kinetic theory of adsorption-induced reconstructio n (AIR). The kinetic and equilibrium descriptions are isomorphic, and are expressed in terms of the analogous quantities (instantaneous cove rage Theta at time t, Theta(t), and equilibrium coverage Theta at pres sure p, Theta(p)) which characterize growth and equilibrium on unrecon structable surfaces. The AIR theory predicts that the growth equation (adsorption isotherm) on reconstructable surface can manifest infiniti es at either finite or infinite time (pressure). The meaning of such i nfinities is discussed.