Electronically activated chemisorption of nitrogen on a copper (100) surface

Abstract

The chemisorption on copper (100) of nitrogen gas activated in the gas phase by monoenergetic electrons from 0–100 eV energy was monitored. By comparing these results with gas phase measurements, it is seen that, whereas unexcited N2 does not chemisorb, both neutral and ionized atomic nitrogen chemisorb strongly on copper (100). Calculations imply that each atom of atomic nitrogen to strike the clean copper surface chemisorbs.