AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Surface Science Thursday Sessions
       Session SS-ThP

Paper SS-ThP7
The Interaction of H2O with MgO(100) as Studied with Ambient Pressure Photoemission Spectroscopy

Thursday, November 16, 2006, 5:30 pm, Room 3rd Floor Lobby

Session: Surface Science Poster Session
Presenter: T. Kendelewicz, Stanford University
Authors: D.E. Starr, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
G. Ketteler, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
S. Yamamoto, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
T. Kendelewicz, Stanford University
G.E. Brown Jr., Stanford University
A. Nilsson, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
M. Salmeron, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
H. Bluhm, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Water-oxide interactions play an important role in chemical, environmental and biological systems. Even though these systems have been extensively studied, the nature of the water-oxide interface remains poorly understood. Due to its simplicity and environmental relevance, the MgO(100) surface has become a prototype for studying such interactions. However, basic issues such as molecular versus dissociative adsorption at the H2O/MgO(100) interface have not been resolved. We have utilized Ambient Pressure Photoemission Spectroscopy at beamline 11.0.2 of the Advanced Light Source to address such questions. This unique experimental set-up is capable of performing photoemission experiments in the Torr pressure range allowing measurements of the H2O/MgO(100) interface under equilibrium conditions. We will present experimental results relating to the degree of dissociation and uptake of H2O on a MgO(100) thin film grown on Ag(100) at equilibrium conditions and compare these results to the current understanding of this important prototypical system.