Enthalpies of adsorption of metal atoms on single-crystalline surfaces
by microcalorimetry
Journal Of Chemical Thermodynamics, 33 (3):
333--345 (March 2001)DOI: 10.1006/jcht.2000.0747
Abstract
The heats of adsorption of metal gas atoms onto single crystalline
surfaces can be measured directly as a detailed function of coverage
using a unique microcalorimeter. The development of this experimental
apparatus and the results obtained from these experiments will be
reviewed. The heat detection is performed with a highly sensitive
pyroelectric polymer ribbon pressed into contact with the thin (1
mum thick) single crystal sample, onto which pulses of a metal atom
beam impinge. Heats of adsorption have been measured for pulses of
gas containing a few per cent of a monolayer with a pulse-to-pulse
standard deviation as low as 1.5 kJ.mol(-1). The adhesion energy
of multilayer metal films can be estimated from the integral enthalpy
of adsorption. (C) 2001 Academic Press.