We have studied the electronic structure and gas adsorption properties
of both UHV-cleaved and reduced V2O5(001) surfaces by means of ultrav
iolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies and Auger-electron spectr
oscopy. The surface band structure of the UHV-cleaved V2O5(001) surfac
e is similar to that of the bulk: the V 3d band is unoccupied, and the
upper edge of the 6 eV wide O 2p Valence band lies about 2.5 eV below
E(F). Electron or Ar+-ion bombardment results in an oxygen-deficient
surface; charge is transferred to surface V cations, producing defect-
induced states in the bulk-bandgap region. At room temperature, exposu
re of UHV-cleaved V2O5(001) to CO leads to a slight reduction of the s
urface, while the Ar+-ion bombarded (reduced) surface is inert to CO.
SO2 does not adsorb on the cleaved V2O5 surface at room temperature, b
ut it does adsorb weakly on the reduced surface: both dissociatively a
nd associatively at 300 K, and only dissociatively at 413 and 513 K. T
he interaction of O-2 with reduced V2O5 at room temperature leads to a
partial re-oxidation of the surface.