Effect of oxygen on NO adsorption on the Ag(111) surface: evidence for a NO sub 3,ads species

The formation of a AgNO sub 3 layer revealed by O 1s and N 1s spectra was observed after exposure of the Ag(111) surface to a NO /O sub 2 mixture at 330 K and pressures in the mbar range; at lower pressure no N-containing complexes form. The AgNO sub 3 layer decomposes in vacuum at 450 K resulting in the formation of a highly stable O sub gamma species. The O sub gamma species changes the reactivity of the silver surface to NO adsorption. The NO sub 3,ads species is found on the surface after an exposure of O sub gamma /Ag(111) to NO.