Characterization of energetic topography of heterogeneous surfaces through the analysis of thermal desorption spectra

Monte Carlo simulations of thermal programmed desorption spectra (TPDS) are obtained and analyzed for general heterogeneous surfaces characterized by a dual-site-bond model, where the adsorptive energy topography is described in terms of a correlation length l0. It is shown that the behavior of TPDS is such that the ambiguity arising in the characterization of the energetic topography through adsorption isotherms, where adsorbate–adsorbate interactions and topography effects compete with each other, is resolved in such a way that TPDS provide a more powerful characterization method.