Infrared-laser photoacoustic spectroscopy for surface studies: SF6 interaction with silver films

Infrared-laser photoacoustic spectroscopy has been applied to surface studies at submonolayer coverage under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. The adsorption of SF6 on silver films at 90 K was investigated. Simultaneous x-ray photoelectron measurements show that 0.1 of a monolayer can be readily detected with the photoacoustic technique. Photoacoustic spectra from submonolayer to multilayer surface coverages have been obtained and show characteristic SF6 vibrational bands. © 1982 The American Physical Society.