Desorption dynamics in N2O decomposition on Pd(110)

The decomposition of N2O was studied on Pd(110) through analysis of the angular and velocity distributions of desorbing products by means of angle-resolved thermal desorption combined with time-of-¯ight techniques. Both desorption and decomposition of N2O(a) were completed below 170 K, simultaneously emitting N2. N2 showed two desorption peaks, b1-N2 at 152 K and b2-N2 at 134±140 K. The former revealed an inclined emission at 438 off the normal in a plane along the (001) direction and a hyper-thermal translational energy, whereas the latter showed a cosine angular distribution without an excess translational energy. Different desorption channels were proposed to yield these desorption.#2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.