Adsorption of cyclic hydrocarbons on Pt and the interaction of the adsorbed species with hydrogen

The adsorption of six-membered hydrocarbon cycles and cyclopentane and the interaction of hydrogen with the adsorbed layer on polycrystalline Pt-foil have been studied. The work function change (Δφ) was followed by a Kelvin probe and the C/Pt peak ratio was determined by Auger electron spectroscopy. Combining these two techniques made it possible to distinguish between chemisorption via σ-bonds and π-complex formation. Benzene and toluene adsorbed first as π-complex while cyclohexane showed initially a partial aromatization and a π-complex-like bonding to the surface. Excess hydrocarbon or addition of hydrogen transformed the π-complex into σ-bonded species. Cyclopentane adsorbed via σ-bonds and showed no significant hydrogen effect.     

Fourier transform infrared studies of cyclohexane and benzene adsorbed on Pt/Al2O3: Evidence for π- and σ-bonded chemisorbed species

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been applied to the study of cyclohexane adsorbed on Al₂O₃ and Pt/Al₂O₃ surfaces. Earlier studies of benzene on these same materials have also been extended to include benzene adsorbed on a Pt/Al₂O₃ surface which contains structured carbon residues. The data provide indirect evidence for the formation of a carbon residue on Pt/Al₂O₃ which retains the six-membered cyclic structure of the parent adsorbates. The carbon residue can be formed upon vacuum heating of the parent C₆ ring molecules chemiorbed on Pt/Al₂O₃. There is spectroscopic evidence that cyclohexane dehydrogenates on Pt/Al₂O₃ at 300 K to form two different chemisorbed species; a π-bonded benzene and a dissociated σ-bonded benzene. These two chemisorbed species have CH stretching vibrations centered at 3030 and 2947 cm^?1, respectively. Benzene added to a clean catalyst surface forms only a π-bonded benzene. However, benzene added to Pt/Al₂O₃ with ordered carbon residues forms both π- and σ-bonded benzenes. The addition of H₂ at 300 K to any of the π- or σ-bonded benzenes or to the carbon residue results in the formation of cyclohexane physisorbed on the catalyst. The absence of CH₃ groups upon hydrogenation suggests the lack of CC bond breaking during adsorption or hydrogenation. Simultaneous infrared and thermal desorption studies on chemisorbed deuterated benzene (from C₆D₁₂) indicate that the a-bonded species exchange H from the surface OH groups of the alumina support more readily than does the π-bonded benzene. In addition to hydrogen exchange with the support, thermal desorption experiments indicate the oxidation of a portion of the chemisorbed hydrocarbons and/or carbon residue by oxygen from the alumina support. Therefore, the support is capable of playing a direct role in reactions occurring on the catalyst surface.     

Ethylene adsorption on regularly stepped copper surface: C2H4 on Cu(210)

Ethylene adsorption on regularly stepped Cu(210) surface was investigated with infrared reflection–adsorption spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. At 90 K, π-bonded ethylene was adsorbed on Cu(210) molecularly and all species were desorbed below 160 K. There were three types of π-bonded ethylene on the surface. Recent experimental studies have suggested that ethylene is dehydrogenated on Cu(410) due to the regular step [Kravchuk et al., J. Phys. Chem. C, 113 (2009) 20881]. However, neither the formation of di-σ-bonded ethylene nor dehydrogenation occurred on Cu(210).     

Adsorption of ethene on Pt(1 1 1) and ordered PtxSn/Pt(1 1 1) surface alloys: A comparative HREELS and DFT investigation

The adsorption of ethene (C₂H₄) on Pt(1 1 1) and the Pt₃Sn/Pt(1 1 1) and Pt₂Sn/Pt(1 1 1) surface alloys has been investigated experimentally by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. The experimental results have been compared with density functional theory (DFT) calculations allowing us to perform a complete assignment of all vibration modes and loss features to the species present on the surfaces. On Pt(1 1 1) as well as on the Pt-Sn surface alloys an η² di-σ-bonded conformation of ethene has been found to be the most stable adsorbed form. In addition to this majority species a minor amount of π-bonded ethene has been identified, which is more abundant on the Pt₂Sn surface alloy than on the other surfaces. Additionally the HREELS spectra of ethene on Pt(1 1 1) and the Pt-Sn surface alloys differ only slightly in terms of the energetic positions of the loss peaks.     

Oxidation of ethylene on Pd(100); bonding of ethylene and scavenging of dehydrogenation fragments by surface oxygen

The adsorption and reaction of C₂H₄ on oxygen covered Pd(100) was studied with high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS). The clean Pd(100) surface at 300 K was exposed to O₂ to produce atomic oxygen in the p(2×2) structure for coverages between 0.05 and 0.25. The EELS and TPRS measurements were conducted following saturation coverage of the oxygen covered surface by C₂H₄ at 80 K. Both the di-σ- and π-bonded forms of C₂H₄ were stable on the surface for θ_O less than 0.25. The π-bonded form desorbed without reaction between 100 and 300 K, but the di-σ-bonded form underwent dehydrogenation above 250 K. The C₂H₄ dehydrogenation products were reactive towards atomic oxygen and produced H₂, H₂O, CO, CO₂, and adsorbed C. Oxygen preadsorption inhibited C₂H₄ Oxidation by limiting the formation of di-σ-bonded C₂H₄, and the fully developed p(2×2)O overlayer, corresponding to θ_O = 0.25, was sufficient to block completely the reaction of ethylene. The extent of reaction decreased in a 2:1 ratio to the increase in oxygen coverage, and indicated that oxygen islands blocked C₂H₄ dissociation. Only the π-bonded form of C₂H₄ was stable on the surface for θ_O greater than 0.25; the saturation coverage of π-bonded C₂H₄ of 0.25 was the same as for clean Pd(100).     

The chemistry of ethylene on MoAl alloy thin films formed on dehydroxylated alumina: Hydrogenation, dehydrogenation and H-D exchange reactions

The chemistry of ethylene adsorbed on a thin MoAl layer grown in ultrahigh vacuum on a thin alumina film is studied using a combination of temperature-programmed desorption and X-ray, Auger and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopies. Both di-σ-bonded and a small proportion of π-bonded ethylene are found, where the di-σ-bonded ethylene has a σ/π parameter of ∼0.8 and a heat of adsorption of ∼70 kJ/mol. The ethylene self-hydrogenates to yield ethane and a small amount of methane is detected. The surface hydrogenation activation energy of di-σ-bonded ethylene is ∼65 kJ/mol, while the π-bonded species hydrogenates more easily. Adsorbed ethyl species grafted onto the surface by decomposing ethyl iodide predominantly undergo β-hydride elimination to yield ethylene. Ethyl species hydrogenate to ethane at a lower temperature than does di-σ-bonded ethylene implying that addition of hydrogen to adsorbed ethylene is slower than the rate of ethyl hydrogenation.     

Interaction of Co with an Fe(111) surface

Adsorption of CO on Fe(111) below 300 K causes the appearance of three different non-dissociated species as distinguished by their CO stretch frequencies of about 1530 cm^-1 (a), 1800 cm^-1 (b), and 2000 cm^-1 (c). At T ? 220 K the b-state is first filled up and saturates after 1.5 L exposure; upon increasing the temperature it partly desorbs around 400 K and partly dissociates. Recombination of the C and O atoms followed by CO desorption takes place at about 800 K. Above 1.5 L exposure the a- and c-states are occupied simultaneously; in the thermal desorption spectrum in turn they show up as a relatively broad shoulder at ～ 340 K, which indicates similar adsorption energies for these two species. Saturation of the surface is reached after about 6 L exposure, which is paralleled by a continuous work function increase of up to Δφ = 1.6 eV. A high background intensity in the LEED pattern suggests substantial disorder in the adlayer. Evaluation of the TDS data yields about 2:1 population of the b- and (c + a)-states. The unusual low CO frequency of the a-state finds its analogues in reports on CO adsorption at stepped surfaces, as well as with complex compounds where the π-orbitals of the ligand directly interact with a neighboring metal atom. This species is therefore identified with adsorption in the “deep hollow” sites on the rather open Fe(111) surface. The b-state is tentatively attributed to the “shallow hollow” sites, and the c-state to adsorption on the “on top” sites.     

Cluster studies of CO adsorption: II. CO on small Al clusters

Results for the free-electron-like metal Al (r_s = 2.07 bohr) are compared with previous Li (r_s = 3.25 bohr) results. From an analysis of the various contributions to the total adsorption energy (steric interaction, σ-bonding, π-backbonding) as a function of the CO height above the surface, and the adsorption site, it appears that high conduction electron density leads to strong exchange repulsion. At the top site this effect is partly cancelled by the favourable interaction possibilities with Al 3p functions. The most striking differences with Li are thus the very weak adsorption at the hollow site, and stronger adsorption at the top site.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of molecular systems and quantum-chemical calculations in terms of the density functional theory: Iron π complexes L-Fe(CO)3

The HeI and NeI photoelectron spectra of irontricarboniyl complexes with cyclic diene ligands—αmethylstyrene, orthoquinodimethane, and cyclooctatetraene—were obtained. The results of quantum-chemical calculations of the molecules of these compounds in the approximation of the density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G*) are presented. It is shown that this approximation describes well the excited ionic states of the π complexes under study. The relative ionization cross sections σ_π and σ_3d , which characterize the probability of removal of electrons from the molecular π-ligand and 3d-metal orbitals, are estimated. The mechanism of the selective coordination of the Fe(CO)₃ groups to corresponding organic ligands is discussed. The energies of the L-Fe(CO)₃ chemical bond are calculated.     

Measurement of elastic ω photoproduction at HERA ZEUS Collaboration

The reaction γp →ωp(ω → π⁺π^?π⁰ and π⁰ → γ γ) has been studied in ep interactions using the ZEUS detector at photon-proton centre-of-mass energies between 70 and 90GeV and ∣t∣ < 0.6GeV², where t is the squared four momentum transferred at the proton vertex. The elastic ω photoproduction cross section has been measured to be σ_{γp → ωp} = 1.21 ±0.12 ±0.23 μb. The differential cross section dσ_γp→ωp/d¦t¦ has an exponential shape e^?b∣t∣ with a slope b =10.0 ± 1.2 ± 1.3 GeV^?2. The angular distributions of the decay pions are consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. When compared to low energy data, the features of ω photoproduction as measured at HERA energies are in agreement with those of a soft diffractive process. Previous measurements of the ρ⁰ and ? photoproduction cross sections at HERA show a similar behaviour.     

The interaction of acetylene with Ni(111), chemisorbed oxygen on Ni(111), and NiO(111); the formation of CH species on chemically modified Ni(111) surfaces

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed thermal desorption and low-energy electron diffraction have been used to study the interaction of acetylene with a clean Ni(111) surface, with a Ni(111) surface having co-adsorbed oxygen and with an epitaxially grown NiO(111) surface produced by room temperature oxidation ofNi(111). The adsorption of a (2 × 2) overiayer of π-bonded acetylene or oxygen on the Ni(111) surface markedly alters the subsequent interaction and reaction of the surface with incident acetylene. We find that in the presence of either a (2 × 2) overiayer of oxygen or π-bonded acetylene, a new more strongly bound hydrocarbon phase forms at room temperature. We identify this new phase from its ionization levels as a CH species, and for saturation coverages we find approximately twice as many of these species as the number of π-bonded acetylene molecules in the (2 × 2) structure. Preadsorption of oxygen limits the adsorption of π-bonded acetylene but does not affect the subsequent formation of this CH species. Exposure of acetylene to NiO at room temperature produces only CH species. Based upon these results we propose idealized models for the bonding geometry of π-bonded acetylene and CH species on the Ni(111) surface. The conditions for the formation of CH species and the significance of CH species to surface reactions on Ni are also discussed.     

Current-conducting properties of paper consisting of multiwall carbon nanotubes

Electrical conductivity σ(T) of the paper consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is studied in the temperature range 4.2-295 K, and its magnetoresistivity ρ(B) at various temperatures in magnetic fields up to 9 T is analyzed. The temperature dependence of the paper electrical conductivity σ(T) exhibits two-dimensional quantum corrections to the conductivity below 10 K. The dependences of negative magnetoresistivity ρ(B) measured at various temperatures are used to estimate the wavefunction phase breakdown length L _φ of conduction electrons and to obtain the temperature dependence L _φ = constT ^?p/2, where p ≈ 1/3. Similar dependences of electrical conductivity σ(T), magnetoresistivity ρ(B), and phase breakdown length L _φ(T) are detected for the initial MWCNTs used to prepare the paper.     

A CNDO/2 study of σ- and π- relaxation energies and core electron binding energy shifts in some simple molecules

A relaxation potential model has been used to study relaxation energies and shifts in core electron binding energies for some substituted alkenes and carbonyl compounds in terms of σ- and π-contributions.The conclusions from this study may be summarized as follows:(A) For the series R₁R₂C^*CH₂ and R₁R₂C^*O: (i) The total shifts vary in a regular manner, similar to the shifts in saturated systems; (ii) The variation in σ-relaxation energies is greater than the variation in π-relaxation energies.(B) For the series R₁R₂CCH₂ and R₁R₂CO: (i) There is little variation in the σ-relaxation energies; (ii) The π-relaxation energies show moderately large variations and the higher values are associated with unsaturated substituents which can donate π-electrons to the core-ionized atom via the conjugated π-system; (iii) The π-relaxation energies in the fluorinated systems are similar to those in the unsubstituted molecules; and (iv) The large -ve π-shift in the fluorinated systems results from a ground state build up of electron density at the site of core ionization.     

Comparison of continuous-wave (CW) and tone-burst (TB) excitation modes in vibro-acoustography: Application for the non-destructive imaging of flaws

This paper describes the application of continuous-wave (CW) and tone-burst (TB) vibro-acoustography (VA) experiments for imaging a flawed composite plate. For both modes, the ultrasound frequency is set at f₁ = 3 MHz and f₂ = 3 MHz + ∣Δf∣. The plate was placed at the focus of the transducer and scanned point-by-point over an area of 60 mm by 50 mm on its frontal face with an increment step equal to 0.25 mm/pixel. The resulting acoustic emission amplitude at ∣Δ f∣ is recorded. For the CW mode the difference frequency was set at ∣Δf∣ = 12.9 kHz. For the TB mode, the burst-emitted signal was 100 μs long at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 100 Hz corresponding to bursts of 300 cycles at 3 MHz, and the difference frequency was set at ∣Δf∣ = 44 kHz. The resulting VA images readily show the shape of the flaws. The images also reveal considerable detail of internal substructures such as the fibers used to reinforce the plate. However, the CW VA image shows an artifact caused by the effect of ultrasound standing waves established between the plate and the concave surface of the transducer, resulting in masking some of the flaws. On the other hand, the TB-VA image is free from such artifact. Despite some advantages of using TB-VA, there are some limitations related to this mode. Advantages and limitations of using the two modes are discussed.     

The photoelectron spectra of cyclooctatetraene and its hydrogenated derivatives

The photoelectron spectrum of cyclooctatetraene (COT; 1) has been re-examined. Correlation with the spectra of the dihydro- (2, 3), tetrahydro- (4, 5, 6), hexahydro- (7) and octahydro- (8) derivatives confirms the orbital sequence originally proposed by Eland, namely 5a₁ (π), 7e (π), 4b₂ (π), σ. It is shown that the positions and the relative spacing of the π-orbitals are the result of a competition between through-space and through-bond interactions.The photoelectron spectroscopic results for the hydrogenated derivatives of COT yield information about their conformation; in particular about the twist angles between consecutive π-bonds. The spectrum of 1,5-cyclooctadiene (6) confirms that this molecule preferentially adopts the boat conformation.An empirical rule is proposed which yields estimates for the orbital energies of basis π-orbitals in monocyclic hydrocarbons.     

Adsorption and decomposition of H2O on a K-covered Pt(111) surface

The adsorption of H₂O on clean and K-covered Pt(111) was investigated by utilizing Auger, X-ray and ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopies. The adsorption on Pt(111) at 100–150 K was purely molecular (ice formation) in agreement with previous work. No dissociation of this adsorbed H₂O was noted on heating to higher temperatures. On the other hand, adsorption of H₂O on Pt(111) + K leads to dissociation and to the formation of OH species which were characterized by a work function increase, an O 1s binding energy of 530.9 eV and UPS peaks at 4.7 and 8.7 eV below the Fermi level. The amount of OH formed was proportional to the K coverage for θ_K > 0.06 whereas no OH could be detected for θ? 0.06. Dissociation of H₂O occurred already at T = 100 K, with a sequential appearance of O 1s peaks at 531 and 533 eV representing OH and adsorbed H₂O, respectively. At room temperature and above only the OH species was observed. Annealing of the surface covered with coadsorbed K/OH indicated the high stability of this OH species which could be detected spectroscopically up to 570 K. The adsorption energy of H₂O coadsorbed with K and OH on Pt(111) is increased relative to that of H₂O on Pt. The work function due to this adsorbed H₂O increases whereas it decreases for H₂O on Pt(111). The energy shifts of valence and O1s core levels of H₂O on Pt + K as deduced from a comparison of gas phase and adsorbate spectra are 2.8–4.2 eV compared to ≈ 1.3–2.3 eV for H₂O on Pt (111). This increased relaxation energy shift suggests a charge transfer screening process for H₂O on Pt + K possibly involving the unoccupied 4a₁ orbital of H₂O. The occurrence of this mode of screening would be consistent with the higher adsorption energy of H₂O on Pt + K and with its high propensity to dissociate into OH and H.     

Vibrational spectra of ethylene and acetylene on metal surfaces - an electron energy loss study of ethylene adsorbed on Ni(110) and its carbided surface,and the use of metal-cluster analogies

An analysis has been made of on- and off-specular electron energy loss spectra (EELS) from C₂H₄ and C₂D₄ adsorbed on a clean Ni(110) and also a carbided Ni(110) surface. The carbided surface was prepared by heating the clean Ni surface in ethylene to 573 K or above. EELS spectra were obtained using a Leybold-Heraeus spectrometer at a beam energy of 3.0 eV and with a resolution of ca. 6.5 meV (ca. 50 cm^?1).The loss spectrum from ethylene at low temperatures (110 K) showed principal features at 3000 (w), 1468 (w), 1162 (s), 879 (w) and 403 cm^?1 (s) (C₂D₄ adsorption) and 2186 (w), 1258 (ms), 944 (ms), 645 (w) and 400 cm^?1 (s) (C₂D₄ adsorption). The overall pattern of wavenumbers and intensifies of the C₂H₄/C₂D₄ loss peaks is very similar in form (although systematically different in positions) to those previously observed on Ni(111) (ref.1) and Pt(111) (ref.2) surfaces at low temperatures. Like these earlier spectra,the EELS results for C₂H₄/C₂D₄ adsorbed on clean Ni(110) can be well interpreted in terms of a MCH₂CH₂M/MCD₂CD₂M species (M = metal) with the CC bond parallel to the surface.After adsorption on the carbided Ni(110) surfaces at 125 K,the main loss features occur at 3065 (m), 2992 (m), 1524 (ms), 1250 (s), 895 (s), and 314 cm^?1 (vs) (C₂H₄ adsorption) and 2339 (m), 2242 (m), 1395 (s), 968 (s), 661 (m) and 314 cm^?1 (vs). With the exceptions of reduced intensities of the bands at 895 cm^?1 (C₂H₄) and 661 cm^?1 (C₂D₄) this pattern of losses - particularly the 1550-1200 cm^?1 features which can be assigned to coupled νCC and δCH₂/δCD₂ modes - is well related to similar results on Cu(100) (ref.3) and Pd(111) (ref.4) which have been interpreted convincingly in terms of the presence of π-bonded species, (C₂H₄)M or (C₂D₄)M on the surface. This structural assignment is supported by comparison with the vibrational spectra of Zeise's salt, K[PtCl₃(C₂H₄)].H₂O (refs.5&6).Spectral changes occur on warming C₂H₄ on the clean Ni(110) surface with a growth of a feature near 895 cm^?1 at 200 K. At 300 K a rather poorly-defined spectrum occurs, which differs substantially from those found on (111) surfaces of Pt (ref.2), Rh (ref.7) or Pd (ref.8) at room temperature. These latter have been attributed to the ethylidyne, CH₃.CM₃, surface species (ref.9). For adsorption on Ni(110) there is clearly a mixture of species at room temperature.The analysis of the vibrational spectra of selected metal-cluster compounds of known structure with selected hydrocarbon ligands has helped substantially to assign the spectra of surface species in terms of bonding structures of the adsorbed species, as in the cases of the identification of (C₂H₄)M π-adsorbed (refs.5&6) and the ethylidyne CH₃.CM₃ species (ref.9). We have recently analysed the infrared and Raman spectra of the cluster compound (C₂H₂)Os₃(CO)₁₀ and its deuterium-containing analogue. The infrared frequency and intensity pattern for the A′ modes (C_S symmetry) of the two isotopomers bears a remarkable resemblance to EELS spectra previously obtained at low temperature for C₂H₂/C₂D₂ adsorbed on Pt(111) (ref.2) and (after taking into account systematic frequency shifts) for Pd(111) (ref.4). There is good evidence for believing that the structure of the hydrocarbon ligand interacting with the osmium complex takes the form

where the arrow denotes a π-bond to the third metal atom. This strongly confirms the structure for the low-temperature acetylene species on Pt(111) as proposed by Ibach and Lehwald (ref.2).Finally the room-temperature spectra for ethylene adsorbed on finely-divided silica-supported Pt and Pd catalysts have previously been interpreted in terms of the presence of MCH₂CH₂M (ref.10) and π-bonded (C₂H₄)M species (ref.11). However comparisons with the more recent EELS spectra from ethylene on Pt(111) at room temperature (ref.2) now leads to a reassignment of the 2880 cm^?1 band, on Pt, previously assigned to MCH₂CH₂M, together with a new, related,band at 1340 cm^?1 (ref.12), to the ethylidyne species CH₃CPt₃ found on the single crystal surface.More detailed analyses of the spectra reported here will be published later. Acknowledgement is given to substantial assistance for this programme of research from the Science and Engineering Research Council.     

A pes study on 1,3-thiazole and its monosubstituted halogen derivatives

The photoelectron (HeI) spectra of 1,3-thiazole and its 2F, 2Cl, 2Br, 4Br and 5Br-derivatives are reported. The assignment of the first few bands of the various spectra to the corresponding molecular orbital is based, for thiazole, on the results of an ab initio SCF—MO calculation, while for the various halogen derivatives, on reasonings based on perturbation theory.In particular, the first five outermost molecular orbitals of thiazole probably correspond to π₃ (9.50 eV), π₂ (10.24), σ_N (10.48; orbital mainly localized on the nitrogen atom), σ_S (12.78; orbital mainly localized on the sulphur atom) and π₁ (13.5).     

An XPS and UPS investigation of the adsorption of ethylene on the (111) surface of silver

Monolayer adsorption of pure ethylene on the (111) surface of saver at 80 K has been studied by X-ray (hv = 1486.6 eV) and ultraviolet (hv = 21.2 and 40.8 eV) photoelectron spectroscopy. The density of the adlayer is approximately 5 × 10¹⁴ molecules/cm² at saturation, multilayer formation being prohibited by the ultrahigh vacuum of the spectrometer. The molecular orbitals designated σ¹_CH, σ_CC, σ_CH and 2ss¹ by Demuth are observed at 7.0, 9.0, 10.3 and 13.6 eV below the Fermi level, respectively, but the higher lying π level is obscured by the silver d-band emission. The data are consistent with an undistorted molecule, adsorbed with the molecular axis parallel to the surface. Desorption occurs below 200 K without significant decomposition products remaining on the surface in agreement with the conventional notion that clean silver is relatively inert with respect to olefin adsorption.     

Study on topographic images of Sn/Si(1 1 1)-(√3 × √3)R30° surface by non-contact AFM

Various contrast of topographic images depending on a state of a tip apex on Sn/Si(1 1 1)-(√3 × √3)R30° surface was investigated using a low temperature non-contact AFM. With the type A tip, the image of the ring-type Sn, composed of six Sn atoms surrounding substitutional Si defect, was observed when the frequency shift (∣Δf∣) was small (the tip-sample distance, Z_tip-sample, was long), while the ring-type Sn was not observed and all the Sn atoms have the same contrast when ∣Δf∣ was large (Z_tip-sample was short). On the other hand, with the type B tip, modified from the type A tip by the tip-sample contact, the image of the ring-type Sn atoms was not observed regardless of variation of Δf. It is the first experimental result on the low temperature NC-AFM observation in the Sn/Si(1 1 1) system, which depends on short-range chemical bonding force or electrostatic force acting between the tip and the sample surface. In addition, the substitutional Si defects on the surface were seen as a dim spot or were not seen, also depending on the tip state.