The interaction of hydrogen with metal surfaces of two-fold symmetry

Abstract

Recent results on the adsorption of hydrogen on metal surfaces with two-fold symmetry (Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Pd, Ir and Pt) are compiled and discussed. Experiments concerning the geometrical structure, the electronic configuration, the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of these systems are described and reviewed. It is shown that the rectangular surfaces as compared to the densely packed crystal planes exhibit some peculiar features such as increased reactivity, sticking probability and the tendency of relaxation and reconstruction under hydrogen.