Desorption dynamics in N2O decomposition on Pd(110)

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. V. All rights reserved.