Isotopic study of the temperature-programmed desorption of oxygen from silver

Abstract

The properties of oxygen adsorbed on silver were studied by a temperature-programmed desorption technique using an isotopic-tracer method. Oxygen adsorbates desorbed to form a well-defined single peak with a maximum at ca. 573 K. On the basis of the isotopic distribution during desorption and the surface coverage of the adsorbed oxygen, molecular and atomic oxygen adsorbates and embedded oxygen species are suggested to exist on or in the silver. The latter species can easily exchange its position with the atomic adsorbates.