Migration of H-atoms from metal interface to adsorbed metal carbonyl layers

Abstract

The interaction of Fe(CO)5 with H-adatoms was studied on a Ru(001) surface by thermal desorption spectroscopy. The desorption spectra showed, in addition to the normal hydrogen desorption peak from the Ru(001) surface, two low temperature sharp peaks at 160 and 190 K coinciding with the peaks due to the molecular desorption of Fe(CO)5, This is explained by a model suggesting the migration of H-adatoms into the multilayers of Fe(CO)5 due to either the repulsive interaction between H-adatoms and CO formed by the decomposition of Fe(CO)5 on Ru(001) or the attractive interaction between H-adatoms and Fe(CO)5 molecules.