Effect of the electron irradiation of lithium fluoride on the oxidation of CO molecules on surfaces of the Au/LiF/Mo(110) system

Abstract

Oxidation of CO molecules on the surfaces of gold nanoclusters formed on a lithium fluoride film is studied using infrared spectroscopy and a temperature-programmed reaction in vacuum at a partial pressure of molecular oxygen of 10⁻⁷ Torr. It is found that the rate of oxidation increases when gold clusters 3 nm in size form on the surface of a LiF film saturated with the F-centers created during electron irradiation. This is because the electronic state of gold clusters associated with F-centers differs from that of clusters on a defect-free LiF film.