Enhancement of catalytic promotion action of Li on Ru by atomic steps - Comparison of CO dissociation on Ru(1Â 0Â 9) and Ru(0Â 0Â 1)

Preferential adsorption of Li by the atomic steps on Ru(1 0 9) enhances the dissociation of CO at the Ru steps and impedes the formation of LixCOy complexes on Ru terraces, whereas such complexes are readily formed on Ru(0 0 1), which are evident from a highly red-shifted CO stretching mode at ∼1820 cm−1.