Dynamics of the Dissociative Adsorption of Methane onPt{110}(1×2)

Abstract

An exhaustive molecular beam study of methane dissociation on $\mathrm{Pt}\{110\}(1\times 2)$ provides a new data base for modeling this process. Major new features include a sharp rise in dissociative sticking probability, $s_0$, with increasing translational energy, $E_t$, corresponding to a barrier of 238 meV, a dramatic increase in $s_0$ at higher $E_t$ with increasing vibrational energy, and a significant rise in $s_0$ as $E_t$ is lowered below $\sim 100\mathrm{meV}$. It is concluded that the low energy process is a distinctive steering-assisted direct adsorption pathway.