Molecule Dissociation at the Fe₃O₄ (001) Surface

The molecular dissociation at the single-crystalline Fe₃O₄ (001) surface has been investigated using the diatomic H⁺₂, D⁺₂ and N⁺₂ molecules in the energy range of 3-8 keV and in the temperature range of 90-300 K. The single collision of ions released from dissociation with the surface atoms was observed only for the N₂⁺ molecules. The detail analysis confirmed that for the light molecules such as H₂⁺ and D₂⁺ the charge-transfer process dominate the interaction of a molecule with the magnetite surface. A large change in the scattered ion yields around the Verwey phase transition temperature was observed indicating a strong correlation between the molecule dissociation and the electronic state of the magnetite surface.