State-Resolved Steric Effects in CH₄(ν₃) Dissociation on Ni(110)

Abstract

To fully define a reactive encounter, one must have control over every aspect of the collision, including the approach direction and velocity, quantum state and relative orientations of the reaction partners. In the previous chapter, a quantum-state prepared, aligned molecular beam of well defined translational energy was directed at normal incidence on a single crystal metal surface to study steric effects in a dissociative chemisorption reaction. Using an anisotropic, single-crystalline surface, we are able to raise the level of experimental detail to an aligned gas phase reagent dissociating on an aligned surface structure. In this chapter, the study of steric effects in vibrationally excited methane chemisorption is extended to an anisotropic surface, Ni(110), aligning the vibrationally excited molecule with respect to the surface anisotropy (surface rows).