Densely packed overlayer of iron phthalocyanine molecules grown on single-layer graphene

The FePc molecules form a series of order superstructures on single-layer graphene grown on Ru(0001) with increasing molecular coverage.     

Adsorption of N2O on Cu(100): a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory study

The adsorption of N(2)O on Cu(100) has been studied by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the first molecular layer N(2)O forms a densely packed c(3 x 2) structure, in which the molecules occupy two different adsorption sites. The bonding strength of this layer is found to be very weak as revealed by a low desorption temperature and the formation of misalignments and defects. Density functional theory (DFT) finds a stable c(3 x 2) structure in which the molecules are considerably bent due to charge transfer. In model calculations for a 2 x 2 hollow phase we show that in order to reach the chemisorbed, bent configuration, the molecules have to pass an activation barrier. In the experimentally accessible range, this is apparently not possible and the molecules remain in a stable physisorbed state.     

Methylthiolate on Au(111): adsorption and desorption kinetics

Low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and line of sight mass spectrometry have been used to study the adsorption and desorption of dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) on Au(111). At 300 K adsorption is dissociative, forming a chemisorbed adlayer of methylthiolate with a 1/3 ML, (sq rt 3 x sq rt 3)R30 degrees, structure. At 100 K adsorption is molecular, with dissociation to form the 1/3 ML (sq rt 3 x sq rt 3)R30 degrees methylthiolate structure occurring at 138-160 K. A physisorbed DMDS layer, with a coverage of 1/6 ML of DMDS, forms on top of the (sq rt 3 x sq rt 3)R30 degrees chemisorbed MT surface for T < or = 180 K, with multilayers forming for T < or = 150 K. In temperature programmed desorption, multilayers of DMDS desorbed with zero order kinetics and an activation energy of 41 kJ mol(-1); the physisorbed layer desorbed with first order kinetics, exhibiting repulsive lateral interactions with an activation energy which varied from 63 kJ mol(-1) (theta = 0) to 51 kJ mol(-1) (theta = 1); the chemisorbed methylthiolate layer desorbed associatively as DMDS via the physisorbed layer, the activation energy for the reaction, 2 methylthiolate --> physisorbed DMDS, exhibiting repulsive lateral interactions with an activation energy which varied from 65 kJ mol(-1) (theta = 0) to 61 kJ mol(-1) (theta = 1). The physisorbed disulfide layer explains the pre-cursor state adsorption kinetics observed in sticking probability measurement, while its relatively facile formation provides a mechanism by which thiolate self-assembled monolayers can become mobile at room temperature.     

Molecular layers of ZnPc and FePc on Au(111) surface: Charge transfer and chemical interaction

We have studied zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc) thick films and monolayers on Au(111) using photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Both molecules are adsorbed flat on the surface at monolayer. ZnPc keeps this orientation in all investigated coverages, whereas FePc molecules stand up in the thick film. The stronger inter-molecular interaction of FePc molecules leads to change of orientation, as well as higher conductivity in FePc layer in comparison with ZnPc, which is reflected in thickness-dependent differences in core-level shifts. Work function changes indicate that both molecules donate charge to Au; through the π-system. However, the Fe3d derived lowest unoccupied molecular orbital receives charge from the substrate when forming an interface state at the Fermi level. Thus, the central atom plays an important role in mediating the charge, but the charge transfer as a whole is a balance between the two different charge transfer channels; π-system and the central atom.     

Ferrous to Ferric Transition in Fe-Phthalocyanine Driven by NO2 Exposure

Due to its unique magnetic properties offered by the open-shell electronic structure of the central metal ion, and for being an effective catalyst in a wide variety of reactions, iron phthalocyanine has drawn significant interest from the scientific community. Nevertheless, upon surface deposition, the magnetic properties of the molecular layer can be significantly affected by the coupling occurring at the interface, and the more reactive the surface, the stronger is the impact on the spin state. Here, we show that on Cu(100), indeed, the strong hybridization between the Fe d-states of FePc and the sp-band of the copper substrate modifies the charge distribution in the molecule, significantly influencing the magnetic properties of the iron ion. The Fe^II ion is stabilized in the low singlet spin state (S=0), leading to the complete quenching of the molecule magnetic moment. By exploiting the FePc/Cu(100) interface, we demonstrate that NO₂ dissociation can be used to gradually change the magnetic properties of the iron ion, by trimming the gas dosage. For lower doses, the FePc film is decoupled from the copper substrate, restoring the gas phase triplet spin state (S=1). A higher dose induces the transition from ferrous to ferric phthalocyanine, in its intermediate spin state, with enhanced magnetic moment due to the interaction with the atomic ligands. Remarkably, in this way, three different spin configurations have been observed within the same metalorganic/metal interface by exposing it to different doses of NO₂ at room temperature.     

Formation and characterization of phospholipid monolayers spontaneously assembled at interfaces between aqueous phases and thermotropic liquid crystals

This paper reports an experimental investigation of the self-assembly of phospholipids (l-alpha-phosphatidylcholine-beta-oleoyl-gamma-palmitoyl (l-POPC), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and l-alpha-dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (l-DLPC)) at interfaces between aqueous phases and the nematic liquid crystal (LC) 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl. Stable planar interfaces between the aqueous phases and LCs were created by hosting the LCs within gold grids (square pores with widths of 283 microm and depths of 20 microm). At these interfaces, the presence and lateral organization of the phospholipids leads to interface-driven orientational transitions within the LC. By doping the phospholipids with a fluorescently labeled lipid (Texas Red-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (TR-DPPE)), quantitative epifluorescence microscopy revealed the saturation coverage of phospholipid at the interface to be that of a monolayer with an areal density of approximately 49 +/- 8% relative to hydrated lipid bilayers. By adsorbing phospholipids to the aqueous-LC interface from either vesicles or mixed micelles of dodecyltrimethylammonium and phospholipid, control of the areal density of phospholipid from 42 +/- 10 to 102 +/-18% of saturation monolayer coverage was demonstrated. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments performed by using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) revealed the lateral mobility of fluorescently labeled DPPE in l-DLPC assembled at the interface with the liquid crystal to be (6 +/- 1) x 10(-12) m(2)/s for densely packed monolayers. Variation of the surface coverage and composition of phospholipid led to changes in lateral diffusivity between (0.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(-12) and (15 +/- 2) x 10(-12) m(2)/s. We also observed the phospholipid-laden interface to be compartmentalized by the gold grid, thus allowing for the creation of patterned arrays of phospholipids at the LC-aqueous interface.     

Long-range self-assembly of a polyunsaturated linear organosilane at the n-tetradecane/Au(111) interface studied by STM

We report on the formation of self-assembled monolayers of 13-(trimethylsilyl)-1-tridecene-6,12-diyne [C13H17-Si(CH3)3], an organosilane derivative with a linear polyunsaturated chain, on Au(111) substrates. Molecular resolution STM images recorded at the liquid-solid interface between gold and tetradecane reveal a long-range and densely packed hexagonal lattice with a ( radical3 x radical3)R30 degrees -like structure commensurate against gold adlattice.     

Replacement reactions at a ferrous phthalocyanine centre. Piperidine and substituted pyridines as entering ligands

The kinetics of the replacement of dmso in FePc(dmso)2 by piperidine and 11 substituted pyridines, to form FePc(base)₂ species, have been studied by stopped-flow techniques. For the first step a linear free energy relationship (LFER) exists between the rate constant for fission of base from FePc(base)(dmso) and the gas phase proton affinity of the base, from bases with low proton affinity (CO) to high proton affinity (CN^–). The rate constant for dmso fission from FePc(dmso)₂ was estimated to be ca. 420,000 s^–1, and this fission process largely governs the rate of the first step for neutral bases. The slow first step for the reaction with cyanide ion as base can be explained when the energy needed to de-pair cyanide and potassium ions is taken into account.In the second step the formation rate constants of FePc(base)₂ species cover one order of magnitude for neutral bases, and the base dissociation rate constants cover two orders of magnitude, with a good LFER between these constants and the pK_BH of the leaving group. There is also a good LFER between the equilibrium constant for bis-base complex formation and these same dissociation rate constants.     

DFT study of gas-phase adsorption of benzotriazole on Cu(111), Cu(100), Cu(110), and low coordinated defects thereon

The adsorption of benzotriazole--an outstanding corrosion inhibitor for copper--on Cu(111), Cu(100), Cu(110), and low coordinated defects thereon has been studied and characterized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We find that benzotriazole can either chemisorb in an upright geometry or physisorb with the molecular plane being nearly parallel to the surface. While the magnitude of chemisorption energy increases as passing from densely packed Cu(111) to more open surfaces and low coordinated defects, the physisorption energy is instead rather similar on all three low Miller index surfaces. It is pointed out that due to a large dipole moment of benzotriazole the dipole-dipole interactions are rather important. For perpendicular chemisorption modes the lateral repulsion is very long ranged, extending up to the nearest-neighbor distance of about 60 bohrs, whereas for parallel adsorption modes the lateral interactions are far less pronounced and the molecules experience a weak attraction at distances ?25 bohrs. The chemisorption energies were therefore extrapolated to zero coverage by a recently developed scheme and the resulting values are -0.60, -0.73, and -0.92 eV for Cu(111), Cu(100), and Cu(110), respectively, whereas the zero-coverage physisorption energy is about -0.7 eV irrespective of the surface plane. While the more densely packed surfaces are not reactive enough to interact with the molecular π-system, the reactivity of Cu(110) appears to be at the onset of such interaction, resulting in a very stable parallel adsorption structure with an adsorption energy of -1.3 eV that is ascribed as an apparent chemisorption+physisorption mode.     

In situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy of carbon monoxide adsorbed on Pt(S)-[n(100)x(110)] electrodes

Structural effects on the adsorption of CO have been studied using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) on Pt(S)-[n(100)x(110)] surfaces (n = 2, 5, 9) that have densely packed kink atoms in the step. Coverage and potential dependence of the IRAS spectra are scrutinized. On-top and bridge-bonded CO are found on all of the surfaces examined. CO is adsorbed on only kink at low coverage (thetaCO < or = 0.2). Adsorbed CO on kink gives an IR band at lower frequency than that on step. CO is adsorbed on both kink and terrace at 0.3 < or = thetaCO. Water is adsorbed on the terrace of Pt(510) n = 5 and Pt(910) n = 9 at low CO coverage, but water is not found on Pt(210) n = 2 of which the first layer is composed of only kink atoms. It is suggested that coadsorbed water on the terrace enhances the activity for the oxidation of adsorbed CO on the kink remarkably.     

The first layer of water on Rh(111): microscopic structure and desorption kinetics

The adsorption states and growth process of the first water (D2O) layer on Rh(111) were investigated using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, temperature programed desorption, and spot-profile-analysis low energy electron diffraction. Water molecules wet the Rh(111) surface intact. At the early stage of first layer growth, a (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees commensurate water layer grows where "up" and "down" species coexist; the up and down species represent water molecules which have free OD, pointing to a vacuum and the substrate, respectively. The up domain was a flatter structure than an icelike bilayer. Water desorption from Rh(111) was a half-order process. The activation energy and the preexponential factor of desorption are estimated to be 60 kJ/mol and 4.8 x 10(16) ML(1/2)/s at submonolayer coverage, respectively. With an increase in water coverage, the flat up domain becomes a zigzag layer, like an ice bilayer. At the saturation coverage, the amount of down species is 1.3 times larger than that of the up species. In addition, the activation energy and the preexponential factor of desorption decrease to 51 kJ/mol and 1.3 x 10(14) ML(1/2)/s, respectively.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy study of metal-free phthalocyanine monolayer structures on graphite

Low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) have shown ordered arrangement of molecules for low coverages up to 1 ML. Evaporation of H2Pc onto HOPG and annealing of the sample to 670 K result in a densely packed structure of the molecules. Arrangements of submonolayer, monolayer, and monolayer with additional adsorbed molecules have been investigated. The high resolution of our investigations has permitted us to image single molecule orientation. The molecular plane is found to be oriented parallel to the substrate surface and a square adsorption unit cell of the molecules is reported. In addition, depending on the bias voltage, different electronic states of the molecules have been probed. The characterized molecular states are in excellent agreement with density functional theory ground state simulations of a single molecule. Additional molecules adsorbed on the monolayer structures have been observed, and it is found that the second layer molecules adsorb flat and on top of the molecules in the first layer. All STM measurements presented here have been performed at a sample temperature of 70 K.     

Model Studies on the Ozone-Mediated Synthesis of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles from Dicobalt Octacarbonyl in Ionic Liquids

Low-temperature synthesis in ionic liquids (ILs) offers an efficient route for the preparation of metal oxide nanomaterials with tailor-made properties in a water-free environment. In this work, we investigated the role of 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C₄C₁Pyr][NTf₂] in the synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles from the molecular precursor Co₂(CO)₈ with ozone. We performed a model study in ultra-clean, ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) using Au(111) as a substrate. Exposure of the pure precursor to ozone at low temperatures results in the oxidation of the first layers, leading to the formation of a disordered Co_xO_y passivation layer. Similar protection to ozone is also achieved by deposition of an IL layer onto a precursor film prior to ozone exposure. With increasing temperature, the IL gets permeable for ozone and a cobalt oxide film forms at the IL/precursor interface. We show that the interaction with the IL mediates the oxidation and leads to a more densely packed Co_xO_y film compared to a direct oxidation of the precursor.     

Communication: Time-resolved fluorescence of highly single crystalline molecular wires of azobenzene

We report the enhanced fluorescence with the remarkably long lifetime (1.17 ns) in the first excited state (S(1)) of highly crystalline molecular wires of azobenzene at the excitation wavelength of 467 nm for the first time. This observation suggests that trans-cis photoisomerization through the rotation or inversion mechanism may not be a favorable pathway after excitation to the S(1) state in highly single crystalline molecular wires of azobenzene due to the hindered motion within densely packed crystal structure. We also measured the fluorescence lifetime image of a single crystalline molecular wire of azobenzene, indicating that the lifetime was remarkably uniform and that there was only a very minor variation within the crystal.     

Adsorption dynamics of water on Pt{110}-(1 x 2)

The dynamics of H(2)O adsorption on Pt{110}-(1 x 2) is studied using supersonic molecular beam and temperature programed desorption techniques. The sticking probabilities are measured using the King and Wells method at a surface temperature of 165 K. The absolute initial sticking probability s(0) of H(2)O is 0.54+/-0.03 for an incident kinetic energy of 27 kJmol. However, an unusual molecular beam flux dependence on s(0) is also found. At low water coverage (theta<1), the sticking probability is independent of coverage due either to diffusion in an extrinsic precursor state formed above bilayer islands or to incorporation into the islands. We define theta=1 as the water coverage when the dissociative sticking probability of D(2) on a surface predosed with water has dropped to zero. The slow falling H(2)O sticking probability at theta>1 results from compression of the bilayer and the formation of multilayers. Temperature programed desorption of water shows fractional order kinetics consistent with hydrogen-bonded islands on the surface. A remarkable dependence of the initial sticking probability on the translational (1-27 kJ/mol) and internal energies of water is observed: s(0) is found to be essentially a step function of translational energy, increasing fivefold at a threshold energy of 5 kJ/mol. The threshold migrates to higher energies with increasing nozzle temperature (300-700 K). We conclude that both rotational state and rotational alignment of the water molecules in the seeded supersonic expansion are implicated in dictating the adsorption process.     

On the structure of the first hydration layer on NaCl(100): role of hydrogen bonding

The authors have investigated the structure and energetics of the first hydration layer on NaCl(100) by means of density functional calculations. They have analyzed in detail the role of the hydrogen bond between the adsorbed molecules for the determination of the most favorable structures. They have shown that, using the water dimers as basic building blocks, very stable structures can be constructed. They discuss here two important examples: (i) a model with (1x1) periodicity at 2 ML coverage, and (ii) icelike bilayers with a c(4x2) unit cell at 1.5 ML. Both structures present high adsorption energies per water molecule of approximately 570 meV, in comparison to the 350 meV adsorption energy obtained for the previously studied (1x1) structures composed of weakly interacting monomers. Based on these findings, they propose an interpretation for the experimental observations of Toennies et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 11347 (2004)], who found a transition of the periodicity of the first hydration layer on NaCl(100) from (1x1) to c(4x2) upon electron irradiation. According to the model, the transition would be driven by the partial desorption of (1x1) bilayer structures corresponding to a local coverage of 2 ML and the further rearrangement of the remaining water molecules to form a quasihexagonal structure with c(4x2) periodicity at coverage close to 1.5 ML.     

Interface between platinum(111) and liquid isopropanol (2-propanol): a model for molecular dynamics studies

A molecular dynamics model and its parametrization procedure are devised and used to study adsorption of isopropanol on platinum(111) (Pt(111)) surface in unsaturated and oversaturated coverages regimes. Static and dynamic properties of the interface between Pt(111) and liquid isopropanol are also investigated. The magnitude of the adsorption energy at unsaturated level increases at higher coverages. At the oversaturated coverage (multilayer adsorption) the adsorption energy reduces, which coincides with findings by Panja et al. in their temperature-programed desorption experiment [Surf. Sci. 395, 248 (1998)]. The density analysis showed a strong packing of molecules at the interface followed by a depletion layer and then by an oscillating density profile up to 3 nm. The distribution of individual atom types showed that the first adsorbed layer forms a hydrophobic methyl "brush." This brush then determines the distributions further from the surface. In the second layer methyl and methine groups are closer to the surface and followed by the hydroxyl groups; the third layer has exactly the inverted distribution. The alternating pattern extends up to about 2 nm from the surface. The orientational structure of molecules as a function of distance of molecules is determined by the atom distribution and surprisingly does not depend on the electrostatic or chemical interactions of isopropanol with the metal surface. However, possible formation of hydrogen bonds in the first layer is notably influenced by these interactions. The surface-adsorbate interactions influence the mobility of isopropanol molecules only in the first layer. Mobility in the higher layers is independent of these interactions.     

Self-assembly of monolayer-thick alumina particle-epoxy composite films

Monolayer-thick composite films composed of alpha-alumina and Spurr's epoxy were prepared via a self-assembly process known as fluid forming. The process makes use of a high-spreading-tension fluid composed of volatile and nonvolatile components to propel particles across the air-water interface within a water bath. Continuous addition of the particle suspension builds a 2D particle film at the air-water interface. The spreading fluid compresses the film into a densely packed array against a submerged substrate. The assembled monolayer is deposited onto the substrate by removing the substrate from the bath. A dispersion containing a narrow size distribution, 10 microm alpha-alumina particles, light mineral oil, and 2-propanol was spread at the air-water interface and the alumina particles were assembled into densely packed arrays with an aerial packing fraction (APF) of 0.88. However, when mineral oil was replaced by Spurr's epoxy nonuniform films with low packing density resulted. It was found that replacing 2-propanol with a mixture of 2-propanol and 1-butanol with a volume ratio of 4:1 produced uniform, densely packed alumina/epoxy composite films. The role of the solvent mixture will be discussed.     

The interfacial properties of MgCl(2) thin films grown on Si(111)7 x 7

Photoelectron spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) were used in order to study the MgCl(2)Si(111) system. At submonolayer coverage of MgCl(2), a new LEED pattern was observed corresponding to a (sqr rt 3 x sqr rt 3)R30 degrees overlayer superimposed on the underlying reconstructed Si(111)7 x 7. The surface species at this stage are mainly molecular MgCl(2) and MgCl(x) (x<2) or MgO(x)Cl(y) attached to the Si substrate through Cl bridges coexisting with monodentate SiCl. The interfacial interaction becomes more pronounced when the submonolayer coverage is obtained by annealing thicker MgCl(2) layers, whereby desorption of molecular MgCl(2) is observed leaving on the nonreconstructed silicon surface an approximately 0.2 ML thick MgCl(x) layer which again forms the (sqr rt 3 x sqr rt 3 )R30 degrees superstructure.     

Nickel Foam Supported NiO@Ru Heterostructure Towards High-Efficiency Overall Water Splitting

Electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production from renewable energy requires the innovation of electrocatalysts with high activity and low cost. In this work, densely packed NiO@Ru nanosheets were fabricated on the surface of Ni foam through a two-step method of Ni(OH)₂ growth followed by Ru deposition. Through pair distribution function analysis from selected-area electron diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the interface structure feature is revealed as a thin layer of perovskite NiRuO₃ sandwiched between NiO and Ru. The electrode exhibits high activity and durability for HER and OER, delivering a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a voltage of 1.55 V for overall water splitting in 1 M KOH. The excellent performance can be attributed to the intimate interface contact of NiO and Ru in addition to low charge transfer resistance and super-hydrophilic surface structure, as verified by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and contact-angle measurement.