Selective Production of Reactive and Nonreactive Oxygen Atoms on Pd(001) by Rotationally Aligned Oxygen Molecules

Sticking together: The occupation of different sites by oxygen atoms that are produced by the dissociation of O2 on Pd(100) is determined by the initial rotational alignment of the parent molecules. The atom locations are characterized by different chemical reactivities in the reaction with CO to form CO2 (see picture), which are followed by synchrotron radiation (SR) experiments with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB).