Abstract
Oxide surfaces have only received little attention as compared with metal surfaces although their technical importance is equal or even greater than metal surfaces. Experimental difficulties are the major reason for this situation. Recently, via the study of thin oxide films some of the problems have been circumvented. We address in the present review various aspects in connection with the study of adsorption of molecules onto oxide surfaces. Specific aspects include:
Molecular adsorption on the clean oxide surfaces and its influence on oxide surface states as studied by surface science techniques
Modification of oxide surfaces by metal deposits and its influence on the adsorption behaviour as studied by surface science techniques.
Methods applied include electron spectroscopies for electronic structure studies as well as vibrational excitations, infrared spectroscopy, thermal desorption and related methods.
Study of the dynamics of molecules in the adsorbed state via electron spin resonance spectroscopy and the quantum state resolved detection of desorbing molecules.
