Abstract
Ketene (CH2CO) adsorption on Ag(111) has been studied in ultrahigh vacuum using electron energy loss spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. Ketene adsorbs molecularly on Ag(111) at temperatures below 126 K. The coverage increases linearly with exposure until saturation. No multilayer formation and no shift in desorption temperature with coverage were observed, indicating a lack of attractive interaction between adsorbate molecules. The desorption activation energy is estimated to be 7.8 kcal/mol by assuming first order kinetics and a pre-exponential factor of 1013 sec-1. The adsorption geometry of ketene on the surface is determined from the relative intensities of the vibrational energy loss peaks. The CCO axis of CH2CO is found to be almost parallel to (∼4°away from) the surface and the molecular plane is almost perpendicular to the surface (∼3°tilt).