The adsorption and decomposition of carbon monoxide on Ni(100) and the oxidation of the surface carbide by oxygen

The interaction of carbon monoxide with Ni(100) has been studied by ellipsometry and Auger electron spectroscopy. Bombardment by electrons of a relatively high energy (2500 eV) leads to the disproportionation of the adsorbed CO (2 COad → Cad + CO2g ). The rate of oxidation of this surface carbide is , where hc is the carbon 272 eV Auger peak height, n=0.5 and the apparent activation energy Eact =13.3 kcal/mole. This relation is valid at 200–400°C and at oxygen pressures of 5 × 10−9−8 × 10−7 Torr