Molecular simulation of alkyl monolayers on the Si(111) surface YUAN

The preparation of monolayers on silicon surface is of growing interest for potential applica-tions in biosensor or semiconductor technology[1—5]. The alkyl modified Si(111) surfaces[6—10] can be obtained using the thermal, catalyzed, or photochemical reaction of hydrogen-terminated sili-con with alkenes, Grignard reagents, and so on. At the same time, the monolayer properties on Si(111) surface have been studied by a variety of experimental methods[8—10] such as X-ray photo-electron spect…     

Disulfide passivation of the Ge(100)-2 × 1 surface

Understanding the bonding of sulfur at the germanium surface is important to developing good passivation routes for germanium-based electronic devices. The adsorption behavior of ethyl disulfide (EDS) and 1,8-naphthalene disulfide (NDS) at the Ge(100)-2 × 1 surface has been studied under ultrahigh vacuum conditions to investigate both their fundamental reactivity and their effectiveness as passivants of this surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, multiple internal reflection-infrared spectroscopy, and density functional theory results indicate that both molecules adsorb via S-S dissociation at room temperature. Upon exposure to ambient air, the thiolate adlayer remains intact for both EDS- and NDS-functionalized surfaces, indicating the stability of this surface attachment. Although both systems resist oxidation compared to the bare Ge(100)-2 × 1 surface, the Ge substrate is significantly oxidized in all cases (17-57% relative to the control), with the NDS-passivated surface undergoing up to two times more oxidation than the EDS-passivated surface at the longest air exposure times studied. The difference in passivation capability is attributed to the difference in surface coverage on Ge(100)-2 × 1, where EDS adsorption leads to a saturation coverage 17% higher than that for NDS/Ge(100)-2 × 1.     

The simulation of the adsorption of unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons on the (001)-2 × 1 reconstructed silicon surface by the Monte Carlo and transfer-matrix methods

A model of the adsorption of cyclic unsaturated molecules on the Si(001)-2 × 1 reconstructed surface was developed for the example of 1,4-cyclohexadiene, which can be differently adsorbed on surface adsorption centers. Calculations were performed for a grand canonical ensemble by the Monte Carlo and transfer matrix methods. The structure of the ordered phases formed and the conditions of their appearance were studied in detail. It was shown that the suggested model reproduced all the qualitative special features of the system studied and similar systems.     

Structure and stability of one-dimensional o-phthalaldehyde lines on the Si(100)-2 × 1:H surface

We present the structural models for the o-phthalaldehyde (OP) molecular lines on the H-terminated Si(100) surface which were recently observed by scanning tunnelling microscopy. Our first-principles density-functional theory calculations show that the formation of OP lines is not only kinetically more facile but also thermodynamically more stable than those of previously reported alkene lines.     

Investigation of the Ti/MgCl2 interface on a Si(111) 7 × 7 substrate

Photoelectron spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation, low energy electron diffraction, and ion-scattering spectroscopy were used in order to study the Ti/MgCl(2) interface grown on an atomically clean Si(111) 7 × 7 substrate. A series of high resolution spectra after deposition of a thick MgCl(2) layer, step by step deposition of Ti and gradual annealing, indicated a very reactive interface even at room temperature. Strong interaction between the incoming Ti atoms and the MgCl(2) layer, leads to the formation of Ti(2+) and Ti(4+) oxidation states. The interfacial interaction continues even at multilayer Ti coverage mainly by the partial disruption of Mg-Cl bonds and the formation of Ti-Cl sites, rendering this interface a very promising UHV-compatible model of a pre-catalyst for olefin polymerization. After the final annealing, the MgCl(2) multilayers desorb while Ti remains on the surface forming a silicide layer on which Cl and Mg atoms are attached.     

Mechanism of•OH Formation in the thermal decomposition of (≡Si–O)2Si(C2H5)(O–O•) radicals

ESR andIR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations are used to obtain the mechanistic data on the reaction . The IR bands are assigned by simulating the vibrational spectra of model low-molecular compounds. Quantum chemical calculations provided the data on the shapes of potential energy surface for the systems under study and transition states. These data are used to interpret the experimental data. The title reaction occurs much more readily in the case of organosilicon peroxy radicals than in the case of their hydrocarbon analogs. Surface silanone groups of silica react with ethylene molecules to form the siloxacyclobutane group.     

Stereo-isomerism controls surface reactivity: 1-chloropentane-pairs on Si(100)-2×1

Chloropentane forms asymmetric ('A') and symmetric ('S') pairs on Si(100)-2×1, differing in the direction of curvature of one pentane tail. Surprisingly this renders the rate of thermal reaction of 'A' fifteen times greater than 'S' in chlorinating room-temperature silicon. Correspondingly, for electron-induced reaction the energy threshold for A is 1 eV less than for S.     

Atomic structure and formation mechanism of identically sized Au clusters grown on Si(111)-(7×7) surface

Identically sized Au clusters are grown on the Si(111)-(7×7) surface by room temperature deposition of Au atoms and subsequent annealing at low-temperature. The topographical images investigated by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy show a bias-dependent feature. The current-voltage properties measured by scanning tunneling spectroscopy indicate some semiconducting characteristics of the Au adsorbed surface, which is attributable to the saturation of Si dangling bonds. These experimental results, combined with the simulated scanning tunneling microscopy images and the first-principles adsorption energy calculations, show that the Au cluster is most likely to have a Au(6)Si(3) structure. In the Au(6)Si(3) cluster, three adsorbed Au atoms replace the three Si center adatoms, forming a hollow triangle, while the replaced Si atoms and other three Au atoms connect into a hexagon locating within the triangle. The formation mechanism of this atomic configuration is intimately associated with the complicated chemical valences of Au and the specific annealing conditions.     

Thermal decomposition mechanisms of methylamine, ethylamine, and 1-propylamine on Si(100)-2 × 1 surface

The thermal decomposition reactions of methylamine, ethylamine, and 1-propylamine absorbed on Si(100)-2 × 1 surface were theoretically investigated. Eight decomposition channels were found leading to desorption products of imine, H(2), alkyl cyanide, ammonia, aziridine, alkene, azetidine, and cyclopropane, which supports the experimental assignments. Our mechanistic studies strongly suggest that the alkyl cyanide (hydrogen cyanide in the case of methylamine) channel is coupled with the hydrogen desorption step. The β-hydrogen of ethylamine and 1-propylamine was found to undergo additional decomposition reactions producing aziridine and alkene, which were classified as γ- and β-eliminations, respectively. It was also found that the γ-hydrogen of 1-propylamine undergoes azetidine and cyclopropane producing decompositions, which were classified as δ- and γ-eliminations. In general, γ- and δ-hydrogen involved decomposition reactions are kinetically less favorable than β-hydrogen involved ones. Consequently, it is expected that the thermal decompositions of the primary alkyl amines with longer alkyl chains would not add additional favorable decomposition channels. Except alkyl cyanide and ammonia desorption channels, the decompositions occur in a concerted fashion.     

Dynamics of H2 dissociation on the 1/2 ML c(2 × 2)-Ti/Al(100) surface

The dissociation of H(2) on Ti-covered Al surfaces is relevant to the rehydrogenation and dehydrogenation of the NaAlH(4) hydrogen storage material. The energetically most stable structure for a 1/2 monolayer of Ti deposited on the Al(100) surface has the Ti atoms in the second layer with a c(2 × 2) structure, as has been confirmed by both low-energy electron diffraction and low-energy ion scattering experiments and density functional theory studies. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of H(2) dissociation on a slab model of this Ti/Al(100) surface. Two six-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) have been built for this H(2) + Ti/Al(100) system, based on the density functional theory PW91 and RPBE exchange-correlation functionals. In the PW91 (RPBE) PES, the lowest H(2) dissociation barrier is found to be 0.65 (0.84) eV, with the minimum energy path occurring for H(2) dissociating above the bridge to top sites. Using both PESs, H(2) dissociation probabilities are calculated using the classical trajectory (CT), the quasi-classical trajectory (QCT), and the time-dependent wave-packet methods. We find that the QCT H(2) dissociation probabilities are in good agreement with the quantum dynamics results in the collision energy range studied up to 1.0 eV. We have also performed molecular beam simulations and present predictions for molecular beam experiments. Our molecular beam simulations show that H(2) dissociation on the 1/2 ML Ti/Al(100) surface is an activated process, and the reaction probability is found to be 6.9% for the PW91 functional and 1.8% for the RPBE at a nozzle temperature of 1700 K. Finally, we have also calculated H(2) dissociation rate constants by applying transition state theory and the QCT method, which could be relevant to modeling Ti-catalyzed rehydrogenation and dehydrogenation of NaAlH(4).     

Adsorption and decomposition of cyclohexanone (C6H10O) on Pt(111) and the (2 × 2) and (√3 × √3)r30°-Sn/Pt(111) surface alloys

Adsorption and decomposition of cyclohexanone (C(6)H(10)O) on Pt(111) and on two ordered Pt-Sn surface alloys, (2 × 2)-Sn/Pt(111) and (√3 × √3)R30°-Sn/Pt(111), formed by vapor deposition of Sn on the Pt(111) single crystal surface were studied with TPD, HREELS, AES, LEED, and DFT calculations with vibrational analyses. Saturation coverage of C(6)H(10)O was found to be 0.25 ML, independent of the Sn surface concentration. The Pt(111) surface was reactive toward cyclohexanone, with the adsorption in the monolayer being about 70% irreversible. C(6)H(10)O decomposed to yield CO, H(2)O, H(2), and CH(4). Some C-O bond breaking occurred, yielding H(2)O and leaving some carbon on the surface after TPD. HREELS data showed that cyclohexanone decomposition in the monolayer began by 200 K. Intermediates from cyclohexanone decomposition were also relatively unstable on Pt(111), since coadsorbed CO and H were formed below 250 K. Surface Sn allowed for some cyclohexanone to adsorb reversibly. C(6)H(10)O dissociated on the (2 × 2) surface to form CO and H(2)O at low coverages, and methane and H(2) in smaller amounts than on Pt(111). Adsorption of cyclohexanone on (√3 × √3)R30°-Sn/Pt(111) at 90 K was mostly reversible. DFT calculations suggest that C(6)H(10)O adsorbs on Pt(111) in two configurations: by bonding weakly through oxygen to an atop Pt site and more strongly through simultaneously oxygen and carbon of the carbonyl to a bridged Pt-Pt site. In contrast, on alloy surfaces, C(6)H(10)O bonds preferentially to Sn. The presence of Sn, furthermore, is predicted to make the formation of the strongly bound C(6)H(10)O species bonding through O and C, which is a likely decomposition precursor, thermodynamically unfavorable. Alloying with Sn, thus, is shown to moderate adsorptive and reactive activity of Pt(111).     

Influence of the solvent on the bonding mode of the coordinated thiocyanate ion in the complexes trans-PtH(SCN)(EBu3n)2 (E  P or S)

The directive influence of a large number of different solvents on the thiocyanate ligand in the complexes trans-[(Bu₃ⁿ)₂PtH(NCS)] and trans-[(Bu₃ⁿAs)₂PtH(NCS)] were studied by PMR. Solvents with widely different polarities and coordinating abilities were chosen. Linkage isomer ratios, chemical shifts and spin-spin coupling constants for the complexes in the various solvents were measured. The solvents were classified as follows: (I) “aromatic” in nature, (II) capable of hydrogen-bonding, (III) neither “aromatic” nor capable of hydrogen-bonding, (IV) “aromatic” and capable of hydrogen-bonding. Solvents of class (I) relatively stabilized the N-bound isomers of the complexes, those of class (II), the S-bound isomers. Those of class (III) did not exhibit any particular influence on the isomer ratio.     

A semiclassical calculation of the temperature dependence of inelastic phonon transitions in gas-surface scattering: He/Si(100)-(2 × 1)

Inelastic atom-surface phonon scattering for a model He/Si(100)-(2 × 1) system is investigated by the classical trajectory quantum-forced oscillator DECENT method. All one- and two-phonon creation and annihilation intensities are presented for surface temperatures of 100, 300 and 600 K and the time-of-flight spectra are simulated for these three temperatures. The contribution of one-, two- and multi-phonon events to the total energy transfer between 0 and 600 K is also given.     

Probing the buried Pb/Si(111) interface with SPA LEED and STM on Si(111)-Pbα√3×√3

High resolution spot profile analysis low energy electron diffraction (SPA-LEED) and variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have been used to observe the growth of Pb on the Pb/Si(111)-α√3×√3 phase, which is driven by quantum size effects (QSE). A change in the rotation of the Pb grown islands with respect to the Si substrate has been observed with increasing coverage θ. At lower coverage, separated two-step islands are grown and are aligned with the [110] axis of the substrate. With increasing coverage above 1.5 ML, of the islands coalesce and form a bilayer, with additional islands grown on top. The preferred Pb island orientation changes to 5.6° with respect to the [110] direction. These changes at the metal/semiconductor buried interface are obtained both with SPA LEED and STM as changes to the period of the Moire pattern. The method of analysis of the corrugation period and rotation angle of the Moire pattern measured with diffraction and STM can be applied to obtain the structure of buried metal/substrate interfaces in other epitaxial systems.     

H atom adsorption and diffusion on Si(110)-(1×1) and (2×1) surfaces

We present a periodic density-functional study of hydrogen adsorption and diffusion on the Si(110)-(1×1) and (2×1) surfaces, and identify a local reconstruction that stabilizes the clean Si(110)-(1×1) by 0.51 eV. Hydrogen saturates the dangling bonds of surface Si atoms on both reconstructions and the different structures can be identified from their simulated scanning tunneling microscopy/current image tunneling spectroscopy (STM/CITS) images. Hydrogen diffusion on both reconstructions will proceed preferentially along zigzag rows, in between two adjacent rows. The mobility of the hydrogen atom is higher on the (2×1) reconstruction. Diffusion of a hydrogen vacancy on a monohydride Si(110) surface will proceed along one zigzag row and is slightly more difficult (0.2 eV and 0.6 eV on (1×1) and (2×1), respectively) than hydrogen atom diffusion on the clean surface.     

The isomeric effect on the adjacent Si dimer didechlorination of trans and iso-dichloroethylene on Si(100)-2×1

The dechlorination processes of isomers trans and iso-dichloroethylene (iso-DCE) on Si(100)-2×1 were investigated from first principles, to ascertain the isomeric effect on the adjacent Si dimer di-dechlorination of DCE on Si(100)-2×1. By comparing the feasible adspecies and their reaction barriers between trans and cis-DCE on Si(100)-2×1, we found that the isomeric effect of trans-DCE is negligible, which explained the similar C 1s peak locations in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiment. In contrast, iso-DCE undergoes a more complicated reaction process, although the adjacent Si dimer di-dechlorination is still the dominant mechanism. Among the initial competitive reactions involving intra-, inter-cycloaddition and single C-Cl cleavage, the barrierless intra-cycloaddition is the most favorable reaction and precludes the single dechlorination that yields the mono-σ structure. Subsequent di-dechlorination undergoes a three-step reaction to yield the final product intra-dimer tetra-σ. In addition, the ionization energies of C 1s and Cl 2s electrons were calculated for the tentative assignment of the peaks observed in XPS.     

Effects of bulky substituent groups on the Si–Si triple bonding in RSiSiR and the short Ga–Ga distance in Na2[RGaGaR]: A theoretical study

The steric and electronic effects of bulky aryl and silyl groups on the Si–Si triple bonding in RSiSiR and the short Ga–Ga distance in Na₂[RGaGaR] are investigated by density functional calculations. As typical bulky groups, Tbt = C₆H₂-2,4,6-{CH(SiMe₃)₂}₃, Ar′ = C₆H₃-2,6-(C₆H₃-2,6-iPr₂)₂, Ar¹ = C₆H₃-2,6-(C₆H₂-2,4,6-iPr₃)₂, SiMe(SitBu₃)₂, and SiiPrDis₂ (Dis = CH(SiMe₃)₂) are investigated and characterized. The importance of large basis sets is emphasized for density functional calculations.     

A DFT study on the interaction of Co with an anatase TiO2 (001)-(1×4) surface

The substitution/adsorption structures of Co on an anatase TiO2 (001)-(1×4) surface are investigated using the DFT/local density approximation (LDA) method.Theoretical calculation shows that the Co ion prefers to be adsorbed on the surface of anatase TiO2.The density of states (DOS) analysis finds that the Co 3d is located mainly in the energy gap region.The Co 3d partial density of states (PDOS) indicates that there is a substantial degree of hybridization between O 2s and Co 3d in valence band (VB) regions in the substitution models.The conclusion is that the mode of substitution is more active when the catalyst is a higher-energy surface.     

Binding structures of propylene glycol stereoisomers on the Si(001)-2×1 surface: a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and theoretical study

The binding configuration of propylene glycol stereoisomer molecules adsorbed on the Si(001)-2×1 surface was investigated using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory calculations. Propylene glycol was found to adsorb dissociatively via two hydroxyl groups exclusively as a bridge between the ends of two adjacent dimers along the dimer row. The chirality was preserved during bonding to Si atoms and was identifiable with STM imaging. The large number of propylene glycol conformers in the gas phase was reduced to a single configuration adsorbed on the surface at low molecular coverage.