Lifting of the Au(1 0 0) surface reconstruction by NO chemisorption

We have studied the interaction of NO with the reconstructed Au(1 0 0) surface. Using variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy we have observed formation of the unreconstructed phase of Au(1 0 0) after NO exposure. This NO adsorption-induced phase transition is observed only in a window of temperatures around 170 K, which suggests that this process is slightly activated. Under the same conditions, CO and O2 cannot drive the phase transition, indicating weaker interaction. Thermal desorption spectroscopy experiments provide an estimate of the strength of NO chemisorption on Au(1 0 0) of 57 ± 4 kJ mol−1.