Identification of a surface azide from the reaction of HN3 with C(100)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0039-6028(95)80040-9

The reaction of hydrogen azide, HN₃, with bare and hydrogenated diamond (100) was studied using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Hydrogen azide adsorbs molecularly on the hydrogenated diamond surface at 100 K and desorbs without reacting at < 273 K. In contrast, HN₃ reacts with C(100) at 100 K by breaking the N-H bond to form C-N₃ and C-H surface species. The breaking of the N-H bond is in contrast to the reaction mechanism of HN₃ on Si and Ge surfaces in which breaking of the HN-NN bond is observed. We suggest that the stronger bonding of hydrogen to the diamond surface is responsible.