Ultrahigh vacuum compatible all-glass high pressure reaction cell for accurate and reproducible measurement of small reaction rates

An ultrahigh vacuum preparation and analysis chamber with an externally att ached high pressure reaction cell is described. The novel all-glass design of the reaction cell allows the study of reaction kinetics in a clean envir onment but under conditions close to those of conventional catalysis. React ions on supported metals can be studied on pairs of "real" and "inverse" ty pe model catalysts in the same experimental system under identical sample g eometry. No supports or wires are connected to the catalyst while in the hi gh pressure cell, and background activity can therefore be excluded. The ex perimental setup described required the construction of a special transfer mechanism for in situ manipulation of the samples. As a test reaction, CO h ydrogenation has been studied on a transition metal oxide modified rhodium metal surface, and some initial results are presented. (C) 2000 American In stitute of Physics. [S0034-6748(00)01803-7].