Strong adhesion of water to CeO2(111)

The adsorption of water molecules on a stoichiometric CeO2(111) surface at room temperature is studied with dynamic scanning force microscopy. Atomic resolution imaging reveals spontaneous adsorption as well as deposition of molecules by the tip of the force microscope. Water molecules localize exclusively on one type of site that is associated with the cerium ion sub-lattice and stick to the surface with an estimated surface diffusion barrier of 1 eV. Occasionally adsorbates are moved laterally across the cerium sub-lattice by the action of the scanning tip.