NO ON COO(111)/CO(0001) - HYDROXYL ASSISTED ADSORPTION

We have investigated the structure of epitaxially grown CoO(111) on Co(0001) and the adsorption of NO on this surface using electron spectroscopic methods. The procedure of oxidation of a cobalt surface to get a single-crystal oxide surface has been chosen for two reasons: first, charging of the sample can be avoided when preparing oxide surfaces of only 20-30 Angstrom thickness. Second, the (111) surface of the ionic rocksalt structure is thermodynamically unstable and thus not otherwise easily accessible for surface studies. We show that the (111) surface is terminated by hydroxyl groups which we think stabilize the surface in the same way as the NiO(111) surface is stabilized [F. Rohr et al., Surf. Sci. 315 (1994) L297; D. Cappus et al., Chem. Phys. 177 (1993) 533], and that the adsorption of NO is affected by the presence of OH.