CHEMISORBED OXYGEN ON AU(111) PRODUCED BY A NOVEL ROUTE - REACTION INCONDENSED FILMS OF NO2+H2O

We report a facile, low-temperature reaction between condensed-phase N O2 and H2O that leads ultimately to the formation of a large concentra tion (theta(o) = 0.42 monolayers) of adsorbed oxygen adatoms on a Au(1 11) surface. This reaction represents a novel route to generate surfac e oxygen on Au that can be utilized in fundamental studies of oxidatio n catalysis over Au such as low-temperature CO oxidation and the opera tion of Au converter tubes used in redox chemiluminescence detectors f or atmospheric NOx. Also, this reaction may be relevant to heterogeneo us processes occurring on ice particles in stratospheric clouds. This reaction is not specifically catalyzed by the Au(111) surface or by th e defects present on the Au surface, and so this reaction may have som e general utility for facile oxidation of unreactive surfaces.