Chromium hexacarbonyl [Cr(CO)(6)] was physisorbed on the Pd(100) surface, a
nd the molecular orientation was determined using reflection-absorption inf
rared spectroscopy (RAIRS). The thermal decomposition of the compound was o
bserved, by the indirect observation of a modified surface morphology, whic
h caused the adsorption of energetically unfavourable mu(1)-CO and influenc
ed the growth and structure of subsequently adsorbed Cr(CO), layers. (C) 20
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