Effect of an electric double layer on the adsorption and catalytic properties of the ytterbium nanofilm surface

The influence of an electric double layer on the surface of nanometer-thick ytterbium films grown on a Si(111) substrate on their adsorption and catalytic properties has been studied. It is shown that charge density waves (Friedel oscillations) generated in such nanofilms by the Si interface cause nonmonotonic changes of the distance in the double layer with increasing thickness. In turn, compression and expansion of the double layer lead to size dependences of the adsorption-catalytic properties of the film surface. In particular, as the film thickness increases, the adsorption character and decomposition rate of ammonia molecules on the ytterbium surface change.