High-dimensional quantum dynamical study of the dissociation of H2 on Pd(110)

We report the first six-dimensional quantum dynamical study of the dissociative adsorption of H(2) on a (110) surface. We have performed quantum coupled-channel calculations for the system H(2)/Pd(110) based on a potential energy surface (PES) that was derived from ab initio electronic structure calculations. In particular, we have focused on the effects of the corrugation and anisotropy of the PES on the H(2) dissociation probability. Our results agree well with the available experimental data for the sticking probability as a function of the initial kinetic energy and the angle of incidence. Because of the coupling between the anisotropy and corrugation of the potential energy surface our calculations predict an unusual rotational heating and a rather small rotational alignment in desorption.