Dehydrogenative Homocoupling of Alkyl Chains on Cu(110)

Through the interplay of high‐resolution scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and density functional theory calculations, the stepwise dehydrogenative homocoupling of alkyl chains on Cu(110) is demonstrated, proceeding from the intact chain, via the dehydrogenative intermediates, to the formation of the divers final coupling products.     

Adsorption of benzene, fluorobenzene and meta-di-fluorobenzene on Cu(110): a computational study

We modelled the adsorption of benzene, fluorobenzene and meta-di-fluorobenzene on Cu(110) by Density Functional Theory. We found that the adsorption configuration depends on the coverage. At high coverage, benzene assumes a tilted position, while at low coverage a horizontal slightly distorted geometry is favoured. Functionalizing the benzene ring with one or two fluorine atoms weakens the bonding to the surface. A rotation is induced, which decreases the distance of the fluorine atom from the surface. STM simulations reveal that details about both, benzene adsorption geometry and fluorine position, can be only detected at short tip-surface distances.     

Two‐Dimensional Ketone‐Driven Metal–Organic Coordination on Cu(111)

Two‐dimensional metal–organic nanostructures based on the binding of ketone groups and metal atoms were fabricated by depositing pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone (PTO) molecules on a Cu(111) surface. The strongly electronegative ketone moieties bind to either copper adatoms from the substrate or codeposited iron atoms. In the former case, scanning tunnelling microscopy images reveal the development of an extended metal–organic supramolecular structure. Each copper adatom coordinates to two ketone ligands of two neighbouring PTO molecules, forming chains that are linked together into large islands through secondary van der Waals interactions. Deposition of iron atoms leads to a transformation of this assembly resulting from the substitution of the metal centres. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the driving force for the metal substitution is primarily determined by the strength of the ketone–metal bond, which is higher for Fe than for Cu. This second class of nanostructures displays a structural dependence on the rate of iron deposition.     

Formation of Highly Ordered Molecular Porous 2D Networks from Cyano-Functionalized Porphyrins on Cu(111)

We investigated the adsorption of three related cyano-functionalized tetraphenyl porphyrin derivatives on Cu(111) by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) with the goal to identify the role of the cyano group and the central Cu atom for the intermolecular and supramolecular arrangement. The porphyrin derivatives studied were Cu-TCNPP, Cu-cisDCNPP, and 2H-cisDCNPP, that is, Cu-5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(p-cyano)-phenylporphyrin, Cu-meso-cis-di(p-cyano)-phenylporphyrin and 2H-meso-cis-di(p-cyano)-phenylporphyrin, respectively. Starting from different structures obtained after deposition at room temperature, all three molecules form the same long-range ordered hexagonal honeycomb-type structure with triangular pores and three molecules per unit cell. For the metal-free 2H-cisDCNPP, this occurs only after self-metalation upon heating. The structure-forming elements are pores with a distance of 3.1 nm, formed by triangles of porphyrins fused together by cyano-Cu-cyano interactions with Cu adatoms. This finding leads us to suggest that two cyano-phenyl groups in the “cis” position is the minimum prerequisite to form a highly ordered 2D porous molecular pattern. The experimental findings are supported by detailed density functional theory calculations to analyze the driving forces that lead to the formation of the porous hexagonal honeycomb-type structure.     

Adsorption of metadiiodobenzene on Cu(110): A theoretical study

In this work, we have computationally modeled the adsorption of 1,3‐diiodobenzene (meta‐diiodobenzene or m‐DIB) on Cu(1 1 0) by means of density functional theory including van der Waals interaction using Grimme's method. We have compared the adsorption energies and structures of 23 possible configurations of the physisorbed molecule. Furthermore, we have simulated STM images for the four most stable configurations using the Tersoff–Hamann approach at different bias voltages. We find that all the adsorption orientations have comparable energy, and we discuss the relative probabilities of experimental observation. We find that the adsorption induces small distortions in the molecular structure of the adsorbate and in some cases an adsorption‐induced symmetry breakdown occurs. We also find evidence that the most stable arrangement is actually a bistable system with interesting symmetry properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anticorrelation between Surface and Subsurface Point Defects and the Impact on the Redox Chemistry of TiO2(110)

By using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), density functional theory (DFT), and secondary‐ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), we explored the interplay and relative impact of surface versus subsurface defects on the surface chemistry of rutile TiO₂. STM results show that surface O vacancies (V_O) are virtually absent in the vicinity of positively charged subsurface point defects. This observation is consistent with DFT calculations of the impact of subsurface defect proximity on V_O formation energy. To monitor the influence of such lateral anticorrelation on surface redox chemistry, a test reaction of the dissociative adsorption of O₂ was employed and was observed to be suppressed around them. DFT results attribute this to a perceived absence of intrinsic (Ti), and likely extrinsic interstitials in the nearest subsurface layer beneath inhibited areas. We also postulate that the entire nearest subsurface region could be devoid of any charged point defects, whereas prevalent surface defects (V_O) are largely responsible for mediation of the redox chemistry at the reduced TiO₂(110).     

Step‐Mediated Anisotropic Adsorption and Condensation of tert‐Butylamine on Cu(111)

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations were applied in studying the anisotropic adsorption and condensation of tert‐butylamine (t‐BA) molecules in the vicinity of the steps on the Cu(111) surface. The preferential adsorption at the upper step edges and uneven distribution of t‐BA in the vicinity of the steps illustrate the asymmetric electronic structure of the surface steps. Our observation demonstrates that the adsorption and diffusion of a polar molecule would be significantly mediated by steps on metal surfaces due to the molecule–step interaction and the intermolecular interactions.     

Fivefold Symmetry and 2D Crystallization: Self-Assembly of the Buckybowl Pentaindenocorannulene on a Cu(100) Surface

The modification of metal electrode surfaces with functional organic molecules is an important part of organic electronics. The interaction of the buckminsterfullerene fragment molecule pentaindenocorannulene with a Cu(100) surface is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy, dispersion-enabled density functional theory, and force field calculations. Experimental and theoretical methods suggest that two adjacent indeno groups become oriented parallel to the surface upon adsorption under mild distortion of the molecular frame. The binding mechanism between molecule and surface is dominated by strong electrostatic interaction owing to Pauli repulsion. Two-dimensional aggregation at room temperature leads to a single lattice structure in which all molecules are oriented unidirectionally. Their relative arrangement in the lattice suggests noncovalent intermolecular interaction through C−H⋅⋅⋅π bonding.     

Pt adsorption on the PbTiO3(110) polar surface: a density functional theory study

The monolayer (ML) and submonolayer Pt on both terminations of PbTiO₃(110) polar surface have been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) with projector‐augmented wave(PAW) potential and a supercell approach. The most favored ML Pt arrangements on PbTiO and O₂ terminations are the hollow site and the short‐bridge site, respectively. By examining the geometries of different ML arrangements, we know that the dominant impetus for stability of the favored adsorption site for PbTiO termination is the Pt–Ti interaction (mainly from covalent bonding), while that for O₂ termination is the Pt–O interaction (mainly from ionic bonding). In addition, the appearance of the gap electronic states in the outermost layers of each termination indicates that a channel for charge transfer between adsorbed layer and substrate is formed. Moreover, the interface hybridization between Pt 5d and O 2p orbitals is also observed, especially for ML Pt on O₂ termination. The stability sequences for various arrangements of 1/2 ML Pt adsorption conform well with those of ML Pt adsorption, and the most stable arrangement is energetically more favorable than the corresponding ML coverage in the view of adsorption energy maximization. The behavior, i.e. the increase in adsorption energy with decrease in coverage, indicates that Pt? Pt interactions weaken those between Pt and the substrate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cu(111)面上糠醇加氢生成2-甲基呋喃的反应机理

采用广义梯度近似的密度泛函理论并结合平板模型的方法,详细研究了糠醇在Cu(111)面上反应生成2-甲基呋喃的反应历程,优化了糠醇在Cu(111)面的吸附模型,并采用完全线性同步和二次同步变换的方法,对三种可能的反应机理中的各反应步骤进行了过渡态搜索.结果表明,糠醇主要通过支链上OH与Cu(111)面相互作用,易形成ψCH2和ψCH2O中间体(ψ代表呋喃环).糠醇进一步加氢机理很可能为:引入的氢物种明显降低了糠醇分解形成的中间体ψCH2的活化能,并促进了它的形成;中间体ψCH2更易从糠醇中获得H而生成2-甲基呋喃.该过程的控速步骤为ψCH2O*→ψCHO*+H*,活化能为199.0kJ/mol,总反应是2ψCH2OH=ψCH3+ψCHO+H2O.     

Cu(100)表面吸附CN的密度泛函研究

采用密度泛函方法,以原子簇Cu14为模拟表面,对CN自由基分子在垂直和平行Cu(100)表面不同位置的吸附情况进行了研究,结果表明：通过原子C垂直吸附在表面的顶位是其最佳吸附方式,吸附后CN键振动频率发生蓝移;而其它吸附方式中CN键振动频率均发生红移．DOS和电荷转移分析指出CN通过C端吸附在表面顶位位置时,Cu与CN之间具有较强的σ成键和较弱的π反键特征．     

The direct observation of 2H‐DPP metalation on Pd(111) and Cu/Pd(111) surface

The metalation behaviors of 5,15‐diphenylporphyrin (2H‐DPP) on Pd(111) and Cu/Pd(111) have been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional calculations. We show that 2H‐DPP molecules deposited on Pd(111) surface form Pd‐DPP with a proportion of about 75% already at room temperature (RT). This is in contrast to non‐metalation adsorption of 2H‐DPP on Cu–Pd alloy at RT. Annealing to 323 K facilitates the metalation of 2H‐DPP on Cu–Pd alloy island. The comparison of the results indicates that the metalation of 2H‐DPP calls for both enough surface free energy of approaching N? H bond and enough reactivity of breaking N? H bond. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.