The interaction of water with oxygen-modified ZrC(100) surfaces

The adsorption of water on oxidized ZrC(100) surfaces at room temperature has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). It is found that the reactivity of the ZrC(100) is much enhanced when the surface is covered with an ordered suboxide (ZrO) like layer; the ZrC(100) surface is inert towards H2O adsorption, while H2O is found to adsorb dissociatively on the ZrC(100) surface covered with the ordered ZrO-like layer forming hydroxyl (OH) species and atomic O species.