Why the close-packed Ni(111) surface dissociatively chemisorbs oxygen and nucleates oxide faster than the more open Ni(100) surface

Abstract

The 300 K kinetics of dissociative chemisorption and oxide island nucleation and growth are compared for Ni(100) and Ni(111). We conclude that the behavior of oxygen sticking probability as a function of coverage can be understood in terms of direct Langmuir adsorption (no molecular diffusion) and the availability of active empty clusters of adsorption sites of certain sizes and configurations.