CONDENSATION OF ATMOSPHERIC GASES ON COLD SURFACES

Data for the deposition of argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide on cold, metal surfaces are considered in detail. It is concluded that argon and nitrogen deposit when the incident gas pressure equals the sublimation pressure at the respective surface temperature, and growth therefore proceeds without any significant intermediate nucleation barrier. Carbon dioxide, however, requires considerable supersaturation of the gaseous phase and consequently bulk deposition is inhibited by a nucleation barrier. The results are analyzed with a view to determining the critical nucleus size and the adsorption energy.