Evidence for the nature of CO adsorbed on nickel from electron spectroscopy

Abstract

At 295 K there is clear evidence from the observed X-ray and u.v. induced spectra that CO is adsorbed in a molecular form. The observed spectra are in good agreement with the ionisation potentials expected of electrons in molecular orbitals of CO(g). Changes in both the X-ray photoelectron spectra and u.v. photoelectron spectra on heating to 430 K are interpreted as reflecting thermally induced dissociation of the adsorbed CO.