CO adsorption on Pd{110} was studied using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction and thermal desorption spectroscopy at 180 to 300K. A unique adsorption sequence occurred, involving a CO-induced reconstruction of the Pd{110} surface, transforming the surface from the bulk truncation Pd{110}(1 x 1) structure to a missing row Pd{110}(1 x 2) structure over the coverage range 0.3 to 0.75 of a monolayer, driven by the higher heat of adsorption of CO on the (1 x 2) Pd surface. Increasing coverage to saturation results in the lifting of the missing row structure and regeneration of the bulk truncation Pd{110}(1 x 1) surface. This was the first conclusive report of a substantial surface reconstruction induced by a molecular adsorbate.

Molecular Adsorbate-Induced Surface Reconstruction: CO/Pd{110}. R.Raval, S.Haq, M.A.Harrison, G.Blyholder, D.A.King: Chemical Physics Letters, 1990, 167[5], 391-8