L. Vattuone et al., Switching from molecular to dissociative adsorption with vibrational energy: ethylene on Ag(001), CHEM P LETT, 331(2-4), 2000, pp. 177-183
We show that vibrational energy can be used to tune the chemisorption state
of an adsorbed molecule. When dosing C2H4 with a supersonic molecular beam
on Ag(0 0 1) we demonstrate by vibrational spectroscopy that, with increas
ing nozzle temperature, TN, firstly no stable adsorption occurs, then a pi
-bonded configuration is populated, switching finally to a more strongly, u
ndissociated, di-sigma -bonded state. Direct dissociation is observed at st
ill higher T-N with the formation of dehydrogenated radicals. (C) 2000 Else
vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.