INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRON-STIMULATED DESORPTION OF NITROGEN FROM PT(111)

The effects of electron-beam irradiation of molecular adlayers of N-2 on Pt(111) are investigated. N+ was seen desorbing from the surface, b ut no N-. The electron-stimulated desorption cross-section for removal of adsorbed N-2 was found to be greatest at a 150 eV beam energy, and the current-density averaged value for this cross-section was determi ned to be sigma=6.7x10(-17) cm(2). Dissociative adsorption of N-2 mole cules was not seen following electron bombardment of molecular N-2 adl ayers on Pt(lll). However, chemisorbed N atom deposition was observed when the sample was negatively biased.