The room-temperature adsorption of oxygen on polycrystalline copper was studied with a novel combination of Auger-electron spectroscopy and time-of-flight analysis of direct surface recoils. By modeling the complex polycrystalline surface as an active ‘‘rough’’ and a nonactive ‘‘smooth’’ array, we obtain quantitative information regarding the kinetics of adsorption on each array. By a comparison with previous results from well-defined single crystals, the interrelation between arrays (and defects) affecting the overall kinetics of this complex surface was determined. The room-temperature adsorption of oxygen on polycrystalline copper displays significant interplane ‘‘spillover’’ effects, which enhances the apparent sticking coefficient of the ‘‘smooth’’ arrays.

• Received 18 July 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.59.90