The decomposition of N2O was studied on Pd(110) through analysis of the ang
ular and velocity distributions of desorbing products by means of angle-res
olved thermal desorption combined with time-of-flight techniques. Both deso
rption and decomposition of N2O(a) were completed below 170 K, simultaneous
ly emitting N-2. N-2 Showed two desorption peaks, beta (1)-N-2 at 152 K and
beta (2)-N-2 at 134-140 K. The former revealed an inclined emission at +/-
43 degrees off the normal in a plane along the (001) direction and a hyper-
thermal translational energy, whereas the latter showed a cosine angular di
stribution without an excess translational energy. Different desorption cha
nnels were proposed to yield these desorption. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.
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