The adsorption of hydrogen on Pd(311) at 100 K has, been investigated
by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). The obs
erved vibration energies are similar to former values reported on low
index Pd surfaces: which allowed relating the vibration modes with the
different adsorption sites on the (311) surface. In contrast to Ni(31
1) and Rh(311), hydrogen adsorption is found to begin at the fourfold-
coordinated instead of the threefold-coordinated sites. The latter sit
es are occupied only at coverages greater than 0.5 ML. The hydrogen ad
sorption behavior on Pd(311) seems to be ruled by the possibility of o
ccupying threefold and fourfold sites and by the H-H repulsion.