Coadsorption of Hydrogen and CO on Hydrogen Pre-Covered PtRu/Ru(0001) Surface Alloys

The influence of pre-adsorbed hydrogen on the adsorption of CO on well-defined PtRu/Ru(0001) surface alloys and the modification of the adsorption properties of both adsorbate species due to coadsorption was studied by a combination of temperature-programmed desorption and infrared spectroscopic measurements. The hydrogen binding strength is weakened both by surface alloy formation and by CO coadsorption. In the densely packed coadsorbate layers, which can be formed after CO post-adsorption, the adsorption properties of the adsorbed CO molecules are also affected significantly. Depending on the Pt surface concentration, the CO adsorption process on hydrogen pre-covered surfaces is blocked to a different extent with a decreasing blocking tendency for Pt-rich alloys.