Non-uniform product inhibition in surface reactions - Spatial organization effects in ammonia oxydehydrogenation on Cu(110)

Ammonia reacts with Cu(100)p(2 x 1)O between 300 and 400 K to form highly spatially organized co-adsorbed layers of O(a), NH(a) and N(a). None of the initially adsorbed oxygen appears inherently unreactive, though the reactivity of oxygen does depend on its local structural environment. Both NH(a) and N(a) form linear structures along the [1(1) over bar0$ 0] direction, perpendicular to the added Cu-O rows of the (2 x 1) structure. In many cases these nitrogen-induced features block the ends of the Cu-O rows and appear to retard further reaction. As a result of such interactions, structures are formed that render otherwise isolated, short reactive Cu-O rows unreactive.