Reduction of oxide layer on various metal surfaces by atomic hydrogen treatment

Abstract The reduction of various metallic oxides was examined. Atomic hydrogen generated on a heated tungsten catalyzer was used for reduction. It was found that Cu, Ru, Nb, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt oxides can be reduced by irradiation with atomic hydrogen. The activation energy for oxide removal was examined and it was found that the values were very small, 10− 2 to 10− 4 eV.