Adsorption of CO on Pd(100): Steering into less favored adsorption sites

Molecular steering effects have been shown already in a number of cases to constitute an effective mechanism to avoid barriers and enhance sticking at low incidence energies. We present a study of the adsorption process of CO on the Pd(100) surface, where a similar mechanism leads to trapping of some of the molecules in less favorable surface sites. The electronic charge transfers and redistributions connected with this process are analyzed in detail.