Abstract

Pulsed-laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) can remove adsorbates from a localized region of the surface. The kinetics of migration of adsorbates against this concentration gradient can be followed using a second LITD pulse, delayed in time, to measure the concentration of adsorbates that have diffused into that area from surrounding regions of the surface. Such measurements, when made as a function of surface temperature and of adsorbate concentration, reveal fundamental information on the nature of adsorbatesurface and adsorbate-adsorbate interactions.

© 1987 Optical Society of America