Epitaxial electrodeposition of ZnO on Au(111) from alkaline solution: exploiting amphoterism in Zn(II)

The amphoteric nature of ZnO is used to produce the material from strongly alkaline solution. The solution pH is lowered globally to produce ZnO powder, and it is lowered locally at a Au(111) surface to produce epitaxial films. ZnO powder is precipitated from a solution of 10 mM Zn(II) in 0.25 M NaOH by simply adding 1 M HNO3 to the solution. For the film electrodeposition, the local pH at the electrode surface is decreased by electrochemically oxidizing the ascorbate dianion. The chemically precipitated ZnO powder grows with a sea urchin-like nanostructure, whereas the electrodeposited films have a columnar structure. ZnO electrodeposited onto a Au(111) single crystal has a ZnO(0001)[1011]//Au(111)[110] orientation relationship.     

Variation of lattice dimensions in epitaxial SnS films on MgO(001)

Epitaxial and polycrystalline SnS films were prepared on MgO(001) and glass substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction method. The orientations of epitaxial films were (010)[100]SnS||(001)[100]MgO or (010)[001]SnS||(001)[100]MgO. Lattice parameters of the polycrystalline film closely resembled those of bulk SnS at room temperature. However, the lattice parameters of epitaxial films varied widely and were very different from those of bulk SnS at room temperature. Considering the lattice dimensions and a/c ratio, the films roughly correspond to bulk SnS at elevated temperatures from 371 to 666 K. SEM images of the films showed needle- or circular-like SnS crystallites segregated from the epitaxial films. Respective energies of indirect band gaps of the films and refractive index of the polycrystalline film were estimated using results of optical transmission experiments.     

Epitaxial electrodeposition of Fe(3)O(4) thin films on the low-index planes of gold

Half-metallic ferrimagnetic materials such as Fe(3)O(4) are of interest for use in spintronic devices. These devices exploit both the spin and charge of an electron in spin-dependent charge transport. Epitaxial thin films of Fe(3)O(4) have been grown on the three low-index planes of gold by electrodeposition. On Au(110), a [110] Fe(3)O(4) orientation that is aligned with the underlying Au(110) substrate is observed. Thin films on Au(100) grow with three different orientations: [100], [111], and [511]. On Au(111), both [111] and [511] orientations of Fe(3)O(4) are observed. The [511] orientations are the result of twinning on [111] planes. A polarization value of approximately -40% at the Fermi level was measured by spin-polarized photoemission at room temperature for a thin film on Au(111).     

Initial oxidation and interfacial diffusion of Zn on faceted MgO(111) films

The interaction of zinc and faceted MgO(111) thin films prepared on a Mo(110) substrate was investigated in situ by using various surface analysis techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, and low-energy electron diffraction. The results revealed that three-dimensional Zn islands exist on the faceted MgO(111) films and that no chemical interaction takes place at the interface at room temperature. Initially, deposited Zn is stable at temperatures below 400 K and diffuses into MgO at temperatures above 425 K. A portion of Zn is oxidized at approximately 10 (-6) mbar O 2 at room temperature. An interfacial phase of Zn x Mg 1- x O was formed after Zn was exposed to approximately 10 (-6) mbar O 2 at temperatures >or=500 K. The faceted structure on the MgO(111) surface is of a disadvantage for the epitaxial growth of ZnO films.     

Anisotropic and passivation-dependent quantum confinement effects in germanium nanowires: a comparison with silicon nanowires

Electronic structures of hydrogen-passivated germanium nanowires (GeNWs) along the [100], [110], [111], and [112] directions are studied by using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. The band gaps of the fully relaxed GeNWs along the [100], [110], and [111] directions are all direct at the smaller sizes, while those of the wires along the [112] direction remain indirect. The magnitude of the band gaps of the GeNWs for a given size approximately follows the order of E(g)[100] > E(g)[111] > E(g)[112] > E(g)[110]. Compared with silicon nanowires, GeNWs exhibit stronger quantum confinement effects. Replacement of H by the more stable ethine group is found to lead to a weakening of the quantum confinement effects of GeNWs.     

Heteropolynuclear palladium complexes with pyrazolate and its 3-tert-butyl derivatives: the effect of heterometal ions on the rate of isomerization

The heteropolynuclear complexes [Pd(2)M'(2)(mu-pz)(6)] (M'=Ag (1), Au (2); pzH=pyrazole), HT-[Pd(2)M'(2)(mu-3-tBupz)(6)] (M'=Ag (3 a), Au (4 a); 3-tBupzH=3-tert-butylpyrazole), and HH-[Pd(2)Au(2)(mu-3-tBupz)(6)] (4 b) have been prepared and some of them were structurally characterized. When 3-tert-butylpyrazolate was employed as a bridging ligand, two linkage isomers (head-to-tail (HT) and head-to-head (HH)) arise from the difference in orientation of the substituent groups on the pyrazolate bridges between the two Pd atoms. (1)H NMR spectroscopy has been used to identify and to follow the reversible stereochemical rearrangement of the HH isomer of [Pd(2)Ag(2)(mu-3-tBupz)(6)] (3 b) to form the HT isomer 3 a in CDCl(3) and the HT isomer of [Pd(2)Au(2)(mu-3-tBupz)(6)] (4 a) to form the HH isomer 4 b in C(6)D(6). Kinetic studies of the reaction have established the rate law to be -d(HH)/dt=d(HT)/dt=k(2)[HH]-k(1)[HT] for 3 b and -d(HT)/dt=d(HH)/dt=k(1)[HT]-k(2)[HH] for 4 a, where k(1) and k(2) denote the rate of isomerization from the HT to the HH isomer and that from the HH to the HT isomer, respectively. For typical runs at 50 degrees C in C(6)D(6), k(1)=13.8x10(-5) s(-1), k(2)=18.6x10(-5) s(-1), and K(eq)=k(2)/k(1)=1.24 for 3 b, and k(1)=1.26x10(-5) s(-1), k(2)=3.52x10(-5) s(-1), and K(eq)=k(1)/k(2)=0.36 for 4 a. Temperature-dependent rate measurements reveal DeltaH(not equal) and DeltaS(not equal) to be 100(1) kJ mol(-1) and 0(3) J mol(-1) K(-1) for 3 b and 112(5) kJ mol(-1) and 20(17) J mol(-1) K(-1) for 4 a, respectively. The rate of isomerization is essentially unaffected by the concentration of the complex or by the presence of neutral bridging ligands. These data and observations imply that the isomerization involves an intramolecular exchange process.     

Adsorption of fumaramide [2]rotaxane and its components on a solid substrate: a coverage-dependent study

The coverage-dependent adsorption on Au(111) of a fumaramide [2]rotaxane and its components, a benzylic amide macrocycle and a fumaramide thread, is studied using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Up to monolayer coverage, the relative intensity of out-of-plane to in-plane phenyl ring vibrational modes indicates that the macrocycle adopts an orientation with the phenyl rings largely parallel to the surface. The formation of a chemisorption bond is evidenced by the presence of a Au-O stretching vibration. In contrast, the thread shows no evidence of chemisorption or a preferential orientation. The introduction of the thread into the macrocycle partly disrupts the film order so that the resulting chemisorbed rotaxane shows intermediate behavior with a preferential orientation up to 0.5 ML coverage. A decrease in film order and the absence of a preferred molecular orientation is observed for all three molecules at multilayer coverages. The spectral differences are addressed by molecular dynamics simulations in terms of the mobility of the phenyls of the three molecules on Au(111).     

Epitaxial growth of AlN films on single-crystalline Ta substrates

We have demonstrated the first epitaxial growth of AlN films on single-crystalline Ta substrates by the use of a low-temperature growth technique based on pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Although previous AlN films grown on Ta(100) and (111) substrates have exhibited quite poor crystallinity, an epitaxial AlN(0001) film with an in-plane epitaxial relationship of AlN[112¯0]//Ta[001] has been obtained on a Ta(110) substrate at a growth temperature of 450 °C. We found that the full-width at half-maximum values for the crystal orientation distribution in the tilt and twist directions of the AlN film were 0.37° and 0.41°, respectively. Grazing-incidence X-ray reflection (GIXR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements have revealed that the AlN/Ta heterointerface is quite abrupt, and that its abruptness remains unchanged even after annealing at 1000 °C.     

Surface electrochemistry of CO on reconstructed gold single crystal surfaces studied by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and rotating disk electrode

The electrooxidation of CO has been studied on reconstructed gold single-crystal surfaces by a combination of electrochemical (EC) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) measurements. Emphasis is placed on relating the vibrational properties of the CO adlayer to the voltammetric and other macroscopic electrochemical responses, including rotating disk electrode measurements of the catalytic activity. The IRAS data show that the C-O stretching frequencies are strongly dependent on the surface orientation and can be observed in the range 1940-1990 cm(-1) for the 3-fold bridging, 2005-2070 cm(-1) for the 2-fold bridging, and 2115-2140 for the terminal position. The most complex CO spectra are found for the Au(110)-(1 x 2) surface, i.e., a band near 1965 cm(-1), with the second, weaker band shifted positively by about 45 cm(-1) and, finally, a weak band near 2115 cm(-1). While the C-O stretching frequencies for a CO adlayer adsorbed on Au(111)-(1 x 23) show nu(CO) bands at 2029-2069 cm(-1) and at 1944-1986 cm(-1), on the Au(100)-"hex" surface a single CO band is observed at 2004-2029 cm(-1). In the "argon-purged" solution, the terminal nu(CO) band on Au(110)-(1 x 2) and the 3-fold bridging band on the Au(111)-(1 x 23) disappear entirely. The IRAS/EC data show that the kinetics of CO oxidation are structure sensitive; i.e., the onset of CO oxidation increases in the order Au(110)-(1 x 2) > or = Au(100)-"hex" > Au(111)-(1 x 23). Possible explanations for the structure sensitivity are discussed.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the adsorption of fumaramide [2]rotaxane on Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces

Thin films of fumaramide [2]rotaxane, a mechanically interlocked molecule composed of a macrocycle and a thread in a "bead and thread" configuration, were prepared by vapor deposition on both Ag(111) and Au(111) substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution electron-energy-loss spectroscopy were used to characterize monolayer and bulklike multilayer films. XPS determination of the relative amounts of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen indicates that the molecule adsorbs intact. On both metal surfaces, molecules in the first adsorbed layer show an additional component in the C 1s XPS line attributed to chemisorption via amide groups. Molecular-dynamics simulation indicates that the molecule orients two of its eight phenyl rings, one from the macrocycle and one from the thread, in a parallel bonding geometry with respect to the metal surfaces, leaving three amide groups very close to the substrate. In the case of fumaramide [2]rotaxane adsorption on Au(111), the presence of certain out-of-plane phenyl ring and Au-O vibrational modes points to such bonding and a preferential molecular orientation. The theoretical and experimental results imply that the three-dimensional intermolecular configuration permits chemisorption at low coverage to be driven by interactions between the three amide functions of fumaramide [2]rotaxane and the Ag(111) or Au(111) surface.     

From Au to Pt via surface limited redox replacement of Pb UPD in one-cell configuration

This work is aimed at developing a protocol based on surface limited redox replacement (SLRR) of underpotentially deposited (UPD) Pb layers for the growth of epitaxial and continuous Pt thin films on polycrystalline and single crystalline Au surfaces. Different from previously reported papers using SLRR in multiple immersion or flow cell setups, this work explores the one-cell configuration setup as an alternative to improve the efficiency and quality of the growth. Open circuit chronopotentiometry and quartz-crystal microbalance experiments demonstrate steady displacement kinetics and a yield that is higher than the stoichiometric Pt(II)-Pb exchange ratio (1:1). This high yield is attributed to oxidative adsorption of OH(ad) taking place on Pt along with the displacement process. Also, ex situ scanning tunneling microscopy surface characterization reveals after the first replacement event the formation of a dense Pt cluster network that homogenously covers the Au surface. The Pt films grow homogenously with no significant changes in the cluster distribution and surface roughness observed up to 10 successive replacement events. X-ray diffraction analysis shows distinct (111) crystallographic orientation of thicker Pt films deposited on (111) textured Au thin films. Coarse energy dispersive spectroscopy measurements and finer X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggest at least 4 atom % Pb incorporating into the Pt layer compared to 13 atom % alloyed Cu when the growth is carried out by SLRR of Cu UPD.     

Epitaxial growth and electrochemical properties of Li4Ti5O12 thin-film lithium battery anodes

Epitaxial Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) thin-films were successfully synthesized on SrTiO(3) single-crystal substrates with (111), (110), and (100) lattice plane orientations using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Thin-film X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) films had the same orientation as the SrTiO(3) substrates: Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) (111) on SrTiO(3) (111), Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) (110) on SrTiO(3) (110), and Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) (100) on SrTiO(3) (100). These epitaxial films contained island structures, and the morphology of the (111), (110), and (100) films, observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), exhibited angular, needle-like, and circular shapes, respectively. The electrochemical properties of 20 nm thick Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) (111) and (110) films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Reversible intercalation proceeded through both lattice planes due to the three-dimensional diffusion pathway of lithium in the spinel framework. Reduction peaks in the first cathodic scan appeared at different positions from those in subsequent scans, suggesting a surface reconstruction at the Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) surface due to interfacial reactions.     

Composition Space of the (CuO, (1)/(2)Nb(2)O(5))/(HF)(x)().pyridine/H(2)O System. Structure and Synthesis of [pyH(+)](2)[CuNb(2)(py)(4)O(2)F(10)](2-) and CuNb(py)(4)OF(5)

Single crystals of [pyH(+)](2)[CuNb(2)(py)(4)O(2)F(10)](2)(-) and CuNb(py)(4)OF(5) were synthesized in a (HF)(x)().pyridine/pyridine/water solution (150 degrees C, 24 h, autogeneous pressure) using CuO and Nb(2)O(5) as reagents. The compound [pyH(+)](2)[CuNb(2)(py)(4)O(2)F(10)](2)(-) contains clusters of [CuNb(2)(py)(4)O(2)F(10)](2)(-) anions linked through N-H(+).F hydrogen bonds to the [pyH(+)] cations. In contrast CuNb(py)(4)OF(5) is a unidimensional compound consisting only of chains, perpendicular to the c axis, of alternating [Cu(py)(4)(O/F)(2/2)](0.5+) and [NbF(4)(O/F)(2/)(2)](0.5)(-) octahedra. The chains change direction between the [110] and [1&onemacr;0] every c/2. Crystal data for [pyH(+)](2)[CuNb(2)(py)(4)O(2)F(10)](2)(-): tetragonal, space group I4(1)22 (No. 98),with a = 11.408(3) ?, c = 30.36(1) ?, and Z = 4. Crystal data for CuNb(py)(4)OF(5): monoclinic, space group C2/c (No. 15), with a = 10.561(3) ?, b = 13.546(6) ?, c = 16.103(4) ?, beta = 97.77(2) degrees, and Z = 4.     

Control of the morphology of oxide nano-islands through the substrate miscut angle

An experimental method is presented that allows to control the morphology of sol–gel grown epitaxial thin films. Thin films of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) have been grown on two c-cut sapphire substrates by sol–gel dip-coating and epitaxial nano-islands have been formed by high temperature thermal treatment. Atomic force microscopy observations and X-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping were used to investigate the effects of a step-like structure of the wafer surface on the morphology and on the out-of-plane orientation of epitaxial nano-islands. In all cases investigated the (002) planes of YSZ remained parallel to the (0001) planes of sapphire, but tilted by an amount depending on both the out-of-plane lattice mismatch and miscut angle.     

Interaction of Au with thin ZrO2 films: influence of ZrO2 morphology on the adsorption and thermal stability of Au nanoparticles

The model catalysts of ZrO(2)-supported Au nanoparticles have been prepared by deposition of Au atoms onto the surfaces of thin ZrO(2) films with different morphologies. The adsorption and thermal stability of Au nanoparticles on thin ZrO(2) films have been investigated using synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thin ZrO(2) films were prepared by two different methods, giving rise to different morphologies. The first method utilized wet chemical impregnation to synthesize the thin ZrO(2) film through the procedure of first spin-coating a zirconium ethoxide (Zr(OC(2)H(5))(4)) precursor onto a SiO(2)/Si(100) substrate at room temperature followed by calcination at 773 K for 12 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations indicate that highly porous "sponge-like nanostructures" were obtained in this case. The second method was epitaxial growth of a ZrO(2)(111) film through vacuum evaporation of Zr metal onto Pt(111) in 1 × 10(-6) Torr of oxygen at 550 K followed by annealing at 1000 K. The structural analysis with low energy electron diffraction (LEED) of this film exhibits good long-range ordering. It has been found that Au forms smaller particles on the porous ZrO(2) film as compared to those on the ordered ZrO(2)(111) film at a given coverage. Thermal annealing experiments demonstrate that Au particles are more thermally stable on the porous ZrO(2) surface than on the ZrO(2)(111) surface, although on both surfaces, Au particles experience significant sintering at elevated temperatures. In addition, by annealing the surfaces to 1100 K, Au particles desorb completely from ZrO(2)(111) but not from porous ZrO(2). The enhanced thermal stability for Au on porous ZrO(2) can be attributed to the stronger interaction of the adsorbed Au with the defects and the hindered migration or coalescence resulting from the porous structures.     

Combined STM and FTIR characterization of terphenylalkanethiol monolayers on Au(111): effect of alkyl chain length and deposition temperature

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4,4'-terphenyl-substituted alkanethiols C6H5(C6H4)2(CH2)n-SH (TPn, n = 1-6) on Au (111) substrates were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). When the SAMs were prepared at room temperature (RT, 298 K), TPn films (except TP2) exhibit an odd-even effect regarding both molecular orientation and packing density. For all investigated films, STM data reveals the presence of a large degree of lateral order. In the case of odd-numbered TPns, the films revealed a (2 square root(3) x square root(3))R30 degree molecular arrangement. For the even-numbered TP4 and TP6 SAMs, a c(5 square root(3) x 3) rectangular unit cell was found. The packing density for the even-numbered TPn SAMs is 25% lower than that for the odd-numbered TPn SAMs. When the SAMs were prepared at 333 K, the even-numbered SAMs were found to form structures with a significantly lower packing density. In the case of TP2, instead of the (2 square root(3) x square root(3))R30 degree structure formed at room temperature, a c(5 square root(3) x 3) structure was observed. For TP6 SAMs, the room-temperature c(5 square root(3) x 3) structure was replaced by a (6 square root(3) x 2 square root(3))R30 degree structure.     

Pentacene nanorails on Au(110)

We studied the molecular orientation of pentacene monolayer phases on the Au(110) surface by means of near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the carbon K-shell and scanning tunneling microscopy. The highest coverage phase, displaying a (6 x 8) symmetry, is found to be formed by two types of differently oriented molecules mimicking regular arrays of nanorails. Flat-lying molecules, aligned side-by-side with the long molecular axis along the [001] direction, form long crosstie chains extending in the [110] direction. In between the adjacent flat chains, additional molecules, tilted by 90 degrees around their molecular axis, line up head-to-tail into rails extending along [110]. These molecules are very weakly hybridized with the substrate, as indicated by their lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, which closely resemble those of the free molecule. The nanorail structure is found to be stable up to 420 K in vacuum and to also remain in place after exposure to air, thus being a template well suited for further self-assembly of organic heterostructures. The tilted quasi-free molecules open the possibility for an optimal lateral pi-coupling to other molecules or molecular assemblies.     

Epitaxial supramolecular assembly of fullerenes formed by using a coronene template on a Au(111) surface in solution

Characteristic properties of the coronene layer formed on Au(111) for the epitaxial growth of various fullerenes are described. The electrochemical behavior of the coronene adlayer prepared by immersing a Au(111) substrate into a benzene solution containing coronene was investigated in 0.1 M HClO4. The as-prepared coronene adlayer on Au(111) revealed a well-defined (4 x 4) structure. Structural changes of the array of coronene molecules induced by potential manipulation were clearly observed by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Supramolecularly assembled layers of fullerenes such as C60, C70, C60-C60 dumbbell dimer (C120), C60-C70 cross-dimer (C130), and C60 triangle trimer (C180) were formed on the well-defined coronene adlayer on the Au(111) surface by immersing the coronene-adsorbed Au(111) substrate into benzene solutions containing those molecules. The adlayers thus prepared were characterized by comparison with those which were directly attached to the Au(111) surface. The C60 molecules formed a honeycomb array with an internal structure in each C60 cage on the coronene adlayer, whereas C70 molecules were one-dimensionally arranged with the same orientations. The dimers, C120 and C130 molecules, formed an identical structure with c(11 x 4 radical3)rect symmetry. For the C130 cross-dimer molecule, C60 and C70 cages were clearly recognized at the molecular level. It was difficult to identify the adlayer of the C180 molecule directly attached to Au(111); however, individual C180 molecules could be recognized on the coronene-modified Au(111) surface. Thus, the adlayer structures of those fullerenes were strongly influenced by the underlying coronene adlayer, suggesting that the insertion of a coronene adlayer plays an important role in the formation of supramolecular assemblies of fullerenes.     

The nature of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer adsorption on sputtered gold substrates

A detailed study of the self-assembly and coverage by 1-nonanethiol of sputtered Au surfaces using molecular resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is presented. The monolayer self-assembles on a smooth Au surface composed predominantly of [111] oriented grains. The domains of the alkanethiol monolayer are observed with sizes typically of 5-25 nm, and multiple molecular domains can exist within one Au grain. STM imaging shows that the (4 x 2) superlattice structure is observed as a (3 x 2) structure when imaged under noncontact AFM conditions. The 1-nonanethiol molecules reside in the threefold hollow sites of the Au[111] lattice and aligned along its [112] lattice vectors. The self-assembled monolayer (SAM) contains many nonuniformities such as pinholes, domain boundaries, and monatomic depressions which are present in the Au surface prior to SAM adsorption. The detailed observations demonstrate limitations to the application of 1-nonanethiol as a resist in atomic nanolithography experiments to feature sizes of approximately 20 nm.     

Schiff碱N-aete-N在Au(111)上自组装单分子膜的电化学及STM研究

利用电化学技术及扫描隧道显微镜(STM),于0.1mol/LHClO₄溶液中研究了Schiff碱N-aete-N在单晶Au(111)面上所形成的自组装单分子膜(SAMs)的电化学性质及结构.N-aete-N在Au(111)电极表面的吸附抑制了金的阳极氧化,同时使固/液界面双层电容明显降低.观察到N-aete-NSAMs的高分辨STM图像.N-aete-N分子在Au(111)表面上以(6×7)结构单胞呈二维有序排列,其表面浓度为5.5×10^-11mol/cm².