Interaction of Nitrous Oxide with Ruthenium (100)

The reactions of nitrous oxide with ruthenium as observed on the Ru(1010) surface occur in two modes. Scission of the ON2 bond with chemisorption of oxygen and release of molecular nitrogen to the gas phase is one, and breaking of both the ON and NN bonds in ONN with chemisorption of both O and N is the other. Energetic considerations lead to the conclusion that the latter mode is a concerted reaction. Site exclusion by preadsorption of oxygen or carbon monoxide inhibits the reaction, and where sufficient aounts of either of these two adsorbates are present, the activity of the surface can be reduced to zero. N2O can produce ruthenium oxide on the surface at sufficiently high temperatures, pressures, and contact times.