Radical formation and surface reaction induced by laser radiation in the CH₂I₂–Al system

CH₂ radicals and C₂H₄ molecules are produced and desorbed from an Al surface with a submonolayer coverage of CH₂I₂ when the adsorbed molecules are excited by 308‐nm laser pulses. In contrast, laser‐induced substrate heating by 532‐nm pulses causes desorption of CH₂I₂ molecules and some thermal decomposition to form CH₂I and I species. The results clearly illustrate the distinctive photochemical and thermal effects on a metal surface irradiated by lasers at different wavelengths.