Mechanochemical activity of nascent surfaces of gold, silver and copper

Nascent surfaces of gold, silver and copper were formed by scratching under high vacuum conditions, and their chemical activity was investigated by a newly developed method. Chemisorption of organic compounds on the nascent surfaces was observed from the partial pressure change detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. It was found that nascent gold surface became so active by scratching that organic compounds chemisorbed on it, and hydrogen due to decomposition of adsorbed molecules was detected even at room temperature. Olefins and aromatic compounds which have /spl pi/-electrons chemisorbed on the nascent surfaces of gold and copper, but no chemisorption was observed on the nascent silver surface. Some hydrocarbons were detected during scratching these metals under organic sulfides and organic iodides. It can be concluded that surface defects on nascent surfaces act as an active site for the chemisorption and the decomposition of organic compounds.