The adsorption of hydrogen on tungsten

Abstract

A method for studying the adsorption of hydrogen on a clean tungsten surface has been developed which depends on the fact that the accommodation coefficient of neon is different for a bare surface and for a surface with an adsorbed film on it.It has been shown that on a bare tungsten surface, saturation occurs at a partial pressure of hydrogen of 4.10−4 mm. of mercury and probably much lower, so that the adsorption is of the nature of chemi-sorption.Important deductions can be drawn concerning the process of activation if any for this chemi-sorption of hydrogen on a bare tungsten surface.The accommodation coefficient of neon with a tungsten surface covered with a hydrogen film of the type investigated is 0·17 at 295°K, and 0·32 at 79°K.The experiments described were carried out during my tenure of a Moseley Studentship at the Cavendish Laboratory, and I should like to thank Lord Rutherford for his interest in the work and the Council of the Royal Society for their continued support. I should also like to thank Professor Rideal for his interest in the results.