Adsorption of Hydrogen on a (110) Nickel Surface

Abstract

Hydrogen adsorption at room temperature on a clean (110) surface of a nickel single crystal is accompanied by reconstructive rearrangement of the surface metal atoms to form a (2×1) surface structure. It is possible to remove this adsorbed hydrogen and obtain a planar surface by heating the crystal slightly above room temperature. A determination of the temperatures and equilibrium hydrogen pressures necessary to remove this adsorbed hydrogen yields an isosteric heat of adsorption of 1.2 eV. Oxygen displaces the hydrogen in the (2×1) structure from the surface and results in the formation of the (1×2) structure characteristic of adsorbed oxygen. This oxygen can be removed from the surface, however, by heating the crystal to 200°C in hydrogen.