Photoelastic modulation-reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy of CO on Pd„111..

The photoelastic modulation-reflection absorption infrared spectrum ~PEM-RAIRS! of CO on single crystal Pd~111! is measured for CO pressures up to ;150 Torr. The ac component of the signal, corresponding to the infrared signal of the surface, is measured using a synchronous demodulator circuit rather than using a lock-in amplifier as used in previous experiments to measure the infrared spectra of model catalysts surfaces. This allows the spectra to be collected at almost the same speed as RAIRS spectra performed in ultrahigh vacuum. A simplified synchronous demodulator circuit is described consisting of two sample-and-hold circuits operating at 100 kHz. Spectra are obtained that are in excellent agreement with previous results showing that a combination of hcp and fcc threefold sites are occupied by CO at 300 K. Atop sites become occupied as the CO pressure increases. Heating the Pd~111! sample to ;500 K removes all adsorbed CO. © 2002 American Vacuum Society. @DOI: 10.1116/1.1517995#