ON THE DISSOCIATION OF O-2 ON ALKALI-METALS

The reaction of O 2 with Li and Cs films is accompanied by the emission of electrons. The variations of the initial yields with the velocity of the impinging molecules is exploited to access the dynamics of the adsorption process. The data are analyzed in terms of a model where chemisorption proceeds via an intermediate [Formula: see text] species. This [Formula: see text] state readily dissociates while the de-excitation of the resulting O − into O 2− may cause electron emission. From a comparison with experimentally observed electron yields the reaction time and velocity uptake of the products is accessed.