PHOTON-DRIVEN CHEMISTRY IN COADSORBED N2O AND CO ON PT(111)

The ultraviolet photon-driven chemistry of coadsorbed nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide on Pt(111) at 47 K has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption. Evidence is presented for the formation of CO2 from photoexcited N2O reacting with CO. The results depend on the order of adsorption. When N2O is adsorbed on a monolayer of CO at 47 K, the photon-driven production of CO2 is not detectable. For dosing in the opposite order, reaction induced by photons is easily detected and, when CO is dosed on a monolayer of N2O at 47 K, about 80% of the N2O is displaced into the second layer.