Probing chemical reactions on surfaces in real time

Program Description

Femtosecond visible laser pulses can be used to drive catalytically important reactions on metal surfaces. We studied the femtosecond dynamics of laser-induced CO-based reactions on a metal surface using the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) free electron x-ray laser at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Changes in the electronic structure of surface species were monitored during the bond making and bond breaking processes by selectively probing the O atoms using soft x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies. From these, we obtained time-resolved electronic structure maps of different surface species along the reaction pathway, providing new insights into surface reaction dynamics in catalysis.