Metastable impact electron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spect
roscopy (Hel) were applied to study the interaction of CO2 and H2O with Sr
films. The films were prepared by evaporating Sr layers (typical thickness:
4 nm) on clean Si(1 0 0). For both CO2 and H2O the interaction is initiate
d by the dissociation of the molecules and the formation of (Sr-O) bonds. S
ubsequently impinging CO2 molecules form carbonate complexes CO32- involvin
g the (Sr-O) bonds. In the case of H2O the surface becomes largely covered
by hydroxyls at larger exposures. These are formed by hydrogen abstraction
from water occurring close to the (Sr-O) bonds. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B
.V. All rights reserved.