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Rotational orientation control of a ground state ortho-H2 dissociation on a metal surface

Author

Listed:
  • H. Chadwick

    (Swansea University)

  • G. Zhang

    (Swansea University)

  • C. J. Baker

    (Swansea University)

  • P. L. Smith

    (Swansea University)

  • G. Alexandrowicz

    (Swansea University)

Abstract

When hydrogen molecules collide with a surface, they can either scatter away from the surface or undergo dissociative chemisorption. The relative probabilities of these different outcomes could depend on the rotational orientation of the impinging molecules, however, due to the lack of steric control techniques for ground state hydrogen, they could not be measured directly. Here, we demonstrate that magnetic field manipulation can be used to control the rotational orientation of H2 molecules colliding with a nickel surface and change the balance between reactive and scattering collision events. Our measurements show that molecules which approach the surface while rotating within a plane parallel to the surface are less likely to undergo specular scattering than those rotating within a perpendicular plane. An opposite trend was measured for the likelihood of dissociative chemisorption. A possible link between these two findings, and its potential impact on the interpretation of dissociation mechanisms is discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • H. Chadwick & G. Zhang & C. J. Baker & P. L. Smith & G. Alexandrowicz, 2025. "Rotational orientation control of a ground state ortho-H2 dissociation on a metal surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59928-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59928-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yosef Alkoby & Helen Chadwick & Oded Godsi & Hamza Labiad & Matthew Bergin & Joshua T. Cantin & Ilya Litvin & Tsofar Maniv & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2020. "Setting benchmarks for modelling gas–surface interactions using coherent control of rotational orientation states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Oded Godsi & Gefen Corem & Yosef Alkoby & Joshua T. Cantin & Roman V. Krems & Mark F. Somers & Jörg Meyer & Geert-Jan Kroes & Tsofar Maniv & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2017. "A general method for controlling and resolving rotational orientation of molecules in molecule-surface collisions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, August.
    3. Helen Chadwick & Mark F. Somers & Aisling C. Stewart & Yosef Alkoby & Thomas J. D. Carter & Dagmar Butkovicova & Gil Alexandrowicz, 2022. "Stopping molecular rotation using coherent ultra-low-energy magnetic manipulations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
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