Determination of Adsorption Energy Heterogeneity of Solid Surfaces

Abstract

A revision of the theory for the distribution of adsorption energies among the surface sites of a solid is presented. It is postulated that the distribution function for the adsorption energies is independent of the temperature. With this requirement, and a knowledge of the pressure-temperature dependence of empirical isotherm data, it is possible to determine simultaneously the distribution function and the dependence of the partition function of the adsorbed phase on the adsorption energy. Several examples are presented in illustration of the theory.