Interaction and reaction of coadsorbed NO and CO on a Rh(100) single crystal surface.

In order to assess the possibility to follow surface reactions in a quantitative way by vibrational spectroscopy, a combination of temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS) and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) has been used to study the decomposition of NO and the reaction between NO and CO on Rh(100). NO adsorbs in two configurations: in an almost parallel position at coverages below 0.18 ML and, in addition, in an upright position, probably on a bridge site, at all coverages.