This thesis deals with the adsorption of selected atoms and molecules on a well defined single crystal cobalt surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to identify different adsorption sites and coverages. Work function measurements have been utilized to monitor the strength of the interaction between adsorbed species and cobalt substrate. Thermal desorption spectroscopy has identified the desorption products and has given information on the activation energies for desorption. By means of low energy electron diffraction measurements the adsorbate unit cell and, by utilizing I-V curve analysis, the atomic positions have been determined.
Adsorption processes are important, e.g. in catalytic reactions, therefore studying adsorption and desorption of atoms and molecules on a well-defined surface can give useful insight information on reactions and how these reactions might be influenced.
We have studied a selection of important atoms and molecules on a Co(0001) surface. Deuterium has been extensively studied as single adsorbate as well as in coadsorption with carbon monoxide and sulfur. Methanol adsorption and O-H bond scission has been an important topic of this thesis. Benzene adsorption has been determined at length, as a single component including I-V curve analysis and DFT calculations, as well as coadsorbed with carbon monoxide. Sulfur, a common unwanted component in a variety of processes like, e.g. crude oil refinery, was investigated as single adsorbate as well as coadsorbed with carbon monoxide.reviewe
