Initial cross section for photodissociation of phosgene on Ag(111)

The initial cross section for UV photodissociation of phosgene (Cl2CO) on Ag(111) at 100 K has been measured. With photon energies greater than 2.6 eV, submonolayer Cl2CO is readily photodissociated to surface Cl(a) and gas phase CO(g). The evolution of CO during photodissociation is readily monitored and used to calculate the initial photodissociation rate and cross section. The cross section is higher than the gas phase absorption cross section and is in the range of 10−18–10−19 cm2. It depends on the wavelength and the Cl2CO coverage.