Adsorption and dissociation of water on LaB6(100) investigated by surface vibrational spectroscopy

► Water dissociates on the LaB6(100) surface at room temperature to produce surface hydroxyl groups. ► At 90 K, water adsorbs molecularly. ► Water adsorbs as a monomeric species at low coverages at 90 K. ► At 300 K, spectra for H2O and O2 show similar peaks due to vibrations of the boron lattice.