Adsorption of H[sub 2], [sup 2]H[sub 2], O[sub 2], and CO on ZrB[sub 2](0001).

Adsorption of H[sub 2], ²H[sub 2], O[sub 2], and CO on ZrB[sub 2](0001) was investigated by using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. In hydrogen and oxygen adsorption, a strong loss peak appears in the specular spectra, showing the dissociative adsorption on the threefold hollow site. The vibrational frequency shifts toward higher energy with increase in oxygen coverage, while little changes in vibrational frequencies were observed in the hydrogen or deuterium adsorption. This means that the interaction between the adsorbates is stronger in oxygen adsorption than in hydrogen adsorption. The initial stage of CO adsorption shows two vibrational peaks, one of which corresponds to the atomic oxygen described above, the other is therefore the atomic carbon, showing dissociative adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]