Size Effect in Silver Oxidation By Nitrogen Dioxide

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to study at room temperature and pressure of 10^–5 Torr the interaction of NO₂ with a model sample obtained by thermal deposition of silver on the graphite surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy shows that in this case, silver particles with a size of D = 4–11 nm are formed on the surface. For comparison, polycrystalline silver foil is studied under similar conditions. It is found that such a treatment leads to silver oxidation in the Ag/C sample while the foil remains unchanged under these conditions.