Adsorption of water on clean gold by measurement of work function changes

Abstract

The interaction of water vapor with clean bulk gold surfaces was studied by means of measurement of work function changes. A work function decrease of as much as one volt occurred on exposure of gold to water vapor. Both physical adsorption and chemisorption contributions to this work function decrease could be distinguished. Water was found to chemisorb on the gold with an activation energy of 3 to 9 kcal/mole and had a desorption energy of about 25 kcal/mole. © 1972.