Resonant photoemission of N(2)O on Ir(110)

The adsorption of N(2)O on Ir(110) was investigated with high-resolution resonant photoemission at 135 K. The results obtained show evidence of molecular adsorption of N(2)O, along with some dissociation. It is found that the nitrogen photoemission spectra measured at the terminal and central nitrogen energy positions of the N(2)O/Ir(110) system are equivalent to those of N(2)O in the gas phase. In contrast, the oxygen spectrum shows little resemblance to the gas phase oxygen spectrum of N(2)O. In the nitrogen resonant photoemission spectra one can only discover resonant behavior with constant binding energy peaks. In contrast, the oxygen resonant photoemission spectra shows dominantly Auger behavior with peaks at constant kinetic energies. Both observations reveal that the oxygen is bonded to the Ir surface. A systematic study as a function of coverage and temperature and a comparison with other surfaces differing in structure and composition is needed to understand the variations in the adsorption behavior of N(2)O On metal surfaces.