STM investigation of the reaction of Ag-O added rows with CO2 on a Ag(110) surface

The formation of carbonate species by a reaction of Ag-O added rows with CO2 was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM observation during the reaction revealed that the Ag-O added rows were compressed from a (4 x 1) to a (2 x 1) phase, according to the growth of carbonate domains. Though the carbonate domains give a (1 x 2) diffraction pattern, STM images of this domain do not show a (1 x 2) structure, which indicates that the Ag substrate reconstructs to a (1 x 2) structure. Though the CO3 species thermally decompose at a lower temperature than Ag-O added rows, the Ag-O added rows can be selectively decomposed by ultraviolet irradiation.