A HIGH-PRESSURE-CELL AND TRANSFER ROD FOR ULTRAHIGH-VACUUM CHAMBERS

novel high pressure cell (or microreactor) and transfer rod for studyi ng surface reaction rates at higher pressures (up to 15 bar) is descri bed in this report. The reactor cell is attached to an ultrahigh vacuu m (UHV) chamber for substrate pre- and post-reaction surface analysis. The sample is mounted on a newly designed transfer rod which allows i t to be moved between UHV and the microreactor, while being heated res istively or cooled to 100 K. A unique feature of this system is the si mple Teflon seal between the high pressure cell and UHV, which is comp ressed by driving the sample into the high pressure cell but is diffus ively separated from the sample. It has been proven that this prevents impurities from the Teflon from reaching the sample during prolonged use. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.