Geometry and bond lengths of chemisorbed atoms and molecules: NEXAFS and SEXAFS

A brief review is given of the near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and surface extended x-ray absorption fine structure (SEXAFS) techniques which have been developed in conjunction with the availability of high brightness monochromatic synchrotron radiation. Concepts and applications of the techniques are discussed using selected examples of chemisorption problems involving atoms and molecules on surfaces. Extensive references to related work are given.     

SO2/Ni(111)吸附系统局域结构的多重散射团簇理论研究

用多重散射团族方法对SO₂/Ni(111)吸附系统的S原子ls近边X射线吸收精细结构进行了详细的计算和分析,求得吸附系统的局域结构。研究结果证实了SO₂分子在Ni(111)表面是平铺吸附的,其最佳吸附位为fcc三度芯位。吸附分子的S—O键长比气体状态时增长了(0.007±0.002)nm,分子键角∠OSO减小了10°,SO₂距衬底的吸附高度为(0.20±0.02)nm。理论计算与两组实验结果进行了直接比较。 关键词： 局域吸附结构 X射线吸收精细结构 2/Ni(111)')" href="#">吸附系统SO₂/Ni(111) 多重散射团簇方法     

Determination of molecular orientation in ultrathin films of aminophenylthiolate on Cu (100) prepared by vapour phase deposition

Ultrathin layers of aminophenylthiol on Cu(100) were prepared by vapour phase deposition of 4,4'-diaminodiphenyldisulphide (DAPS). Composition and molecular orientation in the films were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. DAPS molecules adsorb on Cu(100) by dissociation of the intramolecular S-S bond and the formation of aminophenylthiolate at the copper surface. NEXAFS spectra indicate the presence of well-ordered monolayers with the plane of the phenyl ring tilted by 24° with respect to the surface normal. The same tilt-angle is found in the submonolayer regime.     

NEXAFS study of 1-butanethiol adsorbed on Cu(111) and square root of 7 x square root of 7 R19.1 degrees S/Cu(111)

The adsorption of 1-butanethiol on Cu(111) and square root of 7 x square root of 7 R19.1 degrees S/Cu(111) surfaces has been studied by S K-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Upon adsorption on clean Cu(111) surface at room temperature, butanethiolate as well as atomic sulfur is formed. For the butanethiolate, the S-C bond is found predominately perpendicular to the surface as revealed by polarization analysis. In contrast, on square root of 7 x square root of 7 R19.1 degrees S/Cu(111) surface, the S-H and S-C bonds of the butanethiol stay intact, resulting in a weakly chemisorbed butanethiol.     

The structures of sulphur on Pd(111) studied by X-ray standing wavefield absorption and surface EXAFS

The surface structures of R30°-S and R19.1°-S on Pd(111) have been investigated by normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) absorption and surface extended X-ray absorption fine structure (SEXAFS). NIXSW measurements show that the most likely site of S adsorption in the R30° phase is the threefold “fcc” hollow. The location of the S atoms at the “fcc” hollow site is consistent with S adsorption on the neighbouring fcc (111) transition metal surfaces. SEXAFS analysis revealed a S–Pd nearest neighbour bond distance of 2.28±0.04 Å. The results for the R19.1° phase suggest that the structure involves a mixed S–Pd overlayer, with the S–Pd vertical layer spacing equal to the Pd bulk 111 spacing.     

Structural studies of formate and methoxy groups on the Cu(100) surface using NEXAFS and SEXAFS

Local chemisorption geometries of formate (HCO₂) and methoxy (CH₃O) groups on Cu(100) were examined by means of surface extended (SEXAFS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements above the O K edge. At 300 K the oxygen of the formate group are equivalent and asymmetrically located near the four-fold hollow site yielding two CuO distances between 2.31 and 2.45 Å. These distances are at least 0.3 Å longer than typical CuO distances of surface and bulk compounds due to a Cu-C steric interaction. The CO bonds and the OCO angle of the formate are estimated to be $\text{1.27 ± 0.04}\text{A}\text{?}$ and 127 ± 7°, respectively. At 200 K the methoxy group has a CuO distance of $\text{1.97 ± 0.05}\text{A}\text{?}$ and the CO axis is tilted with respect to the surface normal. The exact chemisorption site of the methoxy goup could not be determined, but the atop site is ruled-out.     

NEXAFS study of HCOO/Ag(110): Evidence for dynamic bending

The structure of the surface formate on Ag(110) at 300 K was studied by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) at the carbon K-edge. Interpretation of the NEXAFS spectra of the formate intermediate with a localized bond picture is inconsistent with the findings of previous vibrational studies. Rather, the resonances must be assigned to transitions to delocalized molecular orbitals, whereupon the results agree with the bidentate configuration deduced from the vibrational experiments. A bonding geometry is determined with respect to the surface normal in which the O-O direction lies parallel to the plane of the surface; no azimuthal ordering was detected. The molecular plane appears to be inclined at an angle of 30 ± 15°. This apparent tilt may be due to a dynamical motion of the species about the surface normal in which the molecular plane oscillates and rotates about the surface normal. These results indicate different bonding geometries for formate on Ag(110) and Cu(110).     

Adsorption of phenylalanine on single crystal rutile TiO2(1 1 0) surface

The adsorption of the aromatic amino acid, phenylalanine on a TiO₂ rutile (1 1 0) single crystal surface has been investigated with photoemission and NEXAFS (near edge X-ray absorption fine structure) spectroscopy. The results indicate initial adsorption via the carboxylate group in a bidentate configuration with the phenyl ring oriented at approximately 25° to the surface normal. The amino group remains as NH₂. Subsequent layers of phenylalanine appear to adsorb as neutral molecules with H-bonding between NH₂ and CO groups.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopy study and photocatalyst application of CuO and Cu0.9Ti0.1O nanoparticles

We report detailed investigations on the electronic structure and photocatalyst application of CuO and Cu_0.9Ti_0.1O nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were prepared by co-precipitation method and subsequent annealing. Crystal structure and morphology of the NPs were investigated by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscope, respectively. The local atomic structure around the Cu atoms was investigated by the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) at the Cu K-edge. Electronic structure determination was done using near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) at the O K-edge, Cu L-edge, Cu K-edge and Ti L-edge. From the structural and electronic structure investigations, it is inferred that the Ti substitutes the Cu in CuO lattice without forming any secondary phases and the valence state of Cu is not affected by the Ti substitution; however the Cu – O bond length is found to be shorten in the Ti doped sample. As prepared NPs exhibit excellent photocatalyst application toward the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and potassium dichromate (PD) pollutant dyes under the visible light irradiation. The mechanism of the photodegradation of MO and PD pollutants, by the smaller sized CuO and larger sized Cu_0.9Ti_0.1O NPs, is briefly discussed.     

Adsorption and structure of methyl mercaptoacetate on Cu(1 1 1) surface by XPS and NEXAFS spectroscopy

Methyl mercaptoacetate (MA) on Cu(1 1 1) surface was investigated using synchrotron radiation-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. MA adsorbs on the surface via thiolate formation and weak interaction of the carbonyl group with the surface. Two different adsorption states previously reported for methanethiolate and ethanethiolate were confirmed, besides atomic sulfur. NEXAFS measurements support gauche-type conformation of MA whose skeleton lies on the surface.     

Bond polarization and image-potential screening in adsorbed C6F6 on Cu(1 1 1)

The orientation of hexafluorobenzene (C₆F₆) on the Cu(1 1 1) surface has been determined for different coverages with the help of near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adsorption geometry and the bonding mode of C₆F₆ differ significantly in comparison to its hydrocarbon analog C₆H₆. C₆F₆ is found to adsorb on Cu(1 1 1) with the ring plane parallel to the surface for coverages below 10 ML. Next to the distinct multilayer, bilayer and monolayer phases we also present evidence of sub-monolayer (i.e., 1/2 ML) coverage with different electronic structure. These findings are explained in a phenomenological model based on fluorine’s property as a σ-acceptor and a π-donor and the resulting bond polarization within the molecule, which is stabilized by image-potential screening within the substrate.     

吡嗪分子在硅(100)面吸附构型的XPS和NEXAFS谱理论研究

本文利用X射线谱研究了吡嗪(C₄H₄N₂)分子共价吸附于硅(100)面的几种吸附构型的几何结构和电子结构. 利用密度泛函理论结合团簇模型,对预测的吸附结构的碳K壳层(1s)X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和近边X射线吸收精细结构(NEXAFS)谱进行了模拟. 计算结果阐明了XPS和NEXAFS谱与不同吸附构型的对应关系. 与XPS谱相比,NEXAFS谱对所研究的吡嗪/硅(100)体系的结构有明显的依赖性,可以很好地用于结构鉴定. 根据碳原子的分类,研究了在NEXAFS光谱中不同化学环境下碳原子的光谱成分.     

A NEXAFS study on the adsorption of ammonia on clean and potassium-promoted iron

The adsorption of ammonia on thin films of iron with and without potassium has been investigated with near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The NEXAFS results suggest that for low coverages of chemisorbed ammonia on iron there is a dilation of the NH bond length with respect to solid ammonia. At higher ammonia coverages there is less perturbation of NH₃, as inferred from NEXAFS and XPS experiments, suggesting that the adsorption energy of the ammonia is a strong function of surface coverage. The coadsorption of potassium metal is found to prevent the ammonia NH bond dilation observed over clean iron.     

Influence of the geometric structure on the V L3 near edge X-ray absorption fine structure from vanadium phosphorus oxide catalysts

We present the V L₃ near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) of a vanadium phosphorus oxide (VPO) catalyst. The spectrum is related to the V3d–O2p hybridised unoccupied states. The overall peak position at the V L₃-absorption edge is determined by the formal oxidation state of the absorbing vanadium atom. Details of the absorption fine structure are influenced by the geometric structure of the compound. Empirically we found a linear relationship between the energy position of several absorption resonances and the V–O bond length of the participating atoms. This allows identification of the contribution of specific V–O bonds to the near edge X-ray absorption fine structure. The bond length/resonance position relationship will be discussed under consideration of relations between geometric structure and NEXAFS features observed in X-ray absorption experiments and theory.     

应用同步辐射光源的表面物理研究—现状与展望

本文综述了应用同步辐射光源的几种主要表面物理研究技术。内容包括:同步辐射光电子能谱(SRPES)、表面广延X射线吸收边精细结构(SEXAFS)、光电子衍射(PED)和掠角入射X射线衍射(GIXD)等。对每种技术的原理、应用实例和最新进展都作了较详细的介绍。     

Theoretical studies on the near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of a hexanethiolate monolayer on Ag(1 0 0)

A theoretical study on the S K-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) of a hexanethiolate monolayer on Ag(1 0 0) has been performed by employing the multiple-scattering cluster (MSC) method. The unoccupied molecular orbitals of the system, which are closely correlated with resonances of the NEXAFS spectra, have been calculated by using the discrete variational (DV)-Xα method. The physical origins of the resonances are elucidated by these theoretical studies. It has been shown that the leading peak at 2470.3 eV is not a π*(S–C), but a resonance corresponding to the transition of 1s electrons into a hybrid orbital of the S(3p) atomic orbital of a hexanethiolate molecule and Ag atomic orbitals. The interaction between the adsorbate and the substrate induces other two weak resonances at 2475.2 and 2478.2 eV in the NEXAFS. The adsorption structure of a hexanethiolate monolayer on Ag(1 0 0) deduced from the theoretical analysis on the NEXAFS is in agreement with that from the SEXAFS of the system.     

The interaction between hexahydroxytriphenylene and the rutile TiO2(110)-(1 × 1) surface at UHV conditions

The interaction between 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) and the rutile TiO₂(110)–(1 × 1) surface under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions was investigated using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The NEXAFS results showed that HHTP molecules formed a submonolayer and a monolayer that aligned along the [001]-direction with, respectively, a more or less flat downward orientation and a more upright orientation to the TiO₂ surface. The HHTP molecules that aligned along the [001]-direction were most likely grafted onto the TiO₂(110) surface by a bidentate bridge between each of the oxygen atoms of one of the catechol units within the HHTP molecule and two adjacent Ti(5f)⁴⁺ ions on the TiO₂(110) surface. The coordination is non-dissociative in the case of the submonolayer, but dissociative in the monolayer, according to the analysis of the C1s XPS, UPS, C1s NEXAFS data and complementary DFT calculations.     

The structure of formate on Cu(100)

There is some controversy over the question of the correct adsorption site for formate on Cu(100). On the basis of SEXAFS and NEXAFS studies Stöhr et al. favour a bridge site with oxygen atoms near fourfold hollows, while Woodruff et al. bring photoelectron diffraction studies to bear argue for a bridge site with the oxygen atoms almost on top of Cu atoms. We calculate the total energies for the two arrangements, optimising the distance of the formate from the Cu surface, using a self-consistent Hartree-Fock scheme with a Gaussian basis. We find the Woodruff structure more stable by some 0.38 eV per formate radical. We calculate the binding energy to be 1.74 eV per formate radical.     

Bonding of saturated hydrocarbons to metal surfaces

The adsorption of octane on Cu(110) was studied by x-ray absorption and x-ray emission spectroscopy, in combination with spectrum calculations in the framework of density functional theory, as a model system for alkane adsorption on transition metals. Significant electron sharing between the adsorbate and metal surface and involvement of both bonding and antibonding C-H molecular orbitals in the molecule-metal bond was found. The calculations were extended to the case of octane adsorbed on Ni(110), and the position of the metal d band was found to be important for the bonding. The results were generalized to show that this is important for the efficiency as an alkane dehydrogenation catalyst.     

Probing the adsorption structure of a multifunctional organic molecule: a NIXSW and NEXAFS study of 3-chlorothiophene on Cu(111)

The adsorption structure of 3-chlorothiophene on Cu(111) has been investigated using a combination of normal incidence X-ray standing wavefield absorption (NIXSW) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. For coverages up to saturation of the chemisorbed layer, the 3-chlorothiophene bonds through the S atom. The S atom adsorbs in an atop site with a Cu–S distance identical, within experimental error, to that observed for thiophene on the same substrate. From a combination of NEXAFS and NIXSW, thiophene was found to adsorb with the aromatic ring flat lying. From NIXSW measurements the S–Cl axis was found to be inclined by 12±2° from the surface. Whilst NEXAFS data suggested an orientation of 23±8° for the aromatic ring of 3-chlorothiophene. The Cl atom interacted only weakly with the substrate, with a Cl–surface distance longer than the Cu–Cl van der Waal separation.