Surface plasmon enhanced photochemistry: Mo(CO)6–Al–quartz

Abstract
We demonstrate that surface plasmon oscillations excited at an adsorbate covered metal–vacuum interface can effectively couple to the electronic system of the adsorbed molecule. Using p‐polarized light (hν=3.5 eV) incident at the surface plasmon resonant angle in Kretschmann’s attenuated‐total‐reflection (ATR) configuration, we observe a strong enhancement of the photodissociation rate of Mo(CO)6 from a 180 Å Al film, evaporated on a quartz prism in UHV.