Selective Production of Reactive and Nonreactive Oxygen Atoms on Pd(001) by Rotationally Aligned Oxygen Molecules

Sticking together: The occupation of different sites by oxygen atoms that are produced by the dissociation of O₂ on Pd(100) is determined by the initial rotational alignment of the parent molecules. The atom locations are characterized by different chemical reactivities in the reaction with CO to form CO₂ (see picture), which are followed by synchrotron radiation (SR) experiments with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB).