Interaction of CO with atomically well-defined PtxRuy/Ru(0 0 0 1) surface alloys

The interaction of CO with structurally well-defined PtxRuy surface alloys supported on Ru(0 0 0 1) was investigated by thermal desorption spectroscopy and infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy. The surface composition and the distribution of the surface atoms were controlled by high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy. On these surfaces, which have a nearly random distribution of the two surface species, the adsorption (and desorption) of CO is strongly modified compared to the pure elemental surfaces, by strain effects and electronic ligand effects. CO adsorbs exclusively in a linear configuration on Pt and Ru atoms for all surfaces investigated. The adsorption energy of CO is lowered on the alloy surfaces with respect to both Pt(1 1 1) and Ru(0 0 0 1), similar as for pseudomorphic monolayer Pt films. For both Pt and Ru sites the adsorption strength decreases with increasing Pt concentration.