Theoretical analysis of the relation between H2 dissociation and reflection on Pd surfaces.

DÍAZ, C.; MARÍN, F.; BUSNENGO, H.F.; SALIN, A.

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS

Año: 2004 vol. 120 p. 321 - 328

0021-9606

We study the scattering of H2( v=0, J=0) molecules by the Pd(110) surface using classical trajectory methods. We show that the dissociative adsorption probability barely depends on incidence angle total energy scaling up to an impact energy of 200 meV. This is the consequence of a "loss of memory" of the initial incidence angle, mostly due to dynamic trapping, which also reflects itself in a cosinelike angular distribution of reflected molecules. Consequently, a cosinelike distribution can be the result of a sub-picosecond process that involves neither energy dissipation to the surface nor transient thermal accommodation.