A NEW METHOD FOR FINDING HETEROGENEOUS ENERGY DISTRIBUTIONS FROM PHYSICAL ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS

Abstract

A model is described which assumes that a heterogeneous surface has a distribution of adsorption energies ƒ(E) for physical adsorption. A new solution is presented giving ƒ(E) for a number of step-type local isotherms, which are chosen to represent varying degrees of adsorbate–adsorbate interaction. The solution permits ƒ(E) to be obtained quite simply from isotherm data at one temperature. This solution for ƒ(E) may then be used to calculate isotherms at other temperatures. The latter isotherms represent predictions of the model and may be compared with experimental data.