MOLECULAR-HYDROGEN CHEMISORPTION ON THIN UNSINTERED GOLD-FILMS DEPOSITED AT LOW-TEMPERATURE

It has been found that hydrogen molecules in the ground state and poss essing low kinetic energy (corresponding to 78 K) do chemisorb at 78 K on clean surfaces of thin, unsintered Au films deposited at low tempe rature (78 K). This deposit is characterized by a single TD peak which occurs at 125 +/- 5 K. Au surface atoms of low coordination number ar e found to be essential in this chemisorption process. Hydrogen predis solved in the bulk of thin Au films play a minor role in H-2 chemisorp tion.