Study of the electron standing wave states in scanning tunneling spectroscopy of Si(111) surface

Electron standing wave (ESW) states excited in the vacuum gap near sample surface by operating the scanning tunneling microscopy in field emission regime have been widely used to probe the local electronic properties of novel materials and structures. For accurate interpretation of the ESW states spectra, a simple numerical approach is developed based on a one‐dimensional model, and the transmission coefficient is accurately calculated using the transfer matrix method. Effects correlated with the potential distribution in the tunneling gap are discussed. By this method, main features of the experimental spectra obtained on Si(111)7 × 7 surfaces are successfully simulated. Factors affecting the spectra are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fully adiabatic dissociative electrochemical electron transfer reactions induced by scanning tunneling microscopy

A theory of fully adiabatic dissociative electrochemical processes of the electron transfer that are induced by scanning tunneling microscopy is constructed. Adiabatic free energy surfaces are calculated and properties of their symmetry are examined under various conditions. Diagrams of kinetic regimes, which characterize possible kinetic processes, which may proceed in the system under consideration, are constructed in the space of model parameters. Dependence of activation free energy on the bias voltage, overvoltage, physical properties of a molecule, and intensity of interaction of a molecule with an electrode and the tip of the scanning tunneling microscope is explored.     

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.     

Solventless Formation of G‐Quartet Complexes Based on Alkali and Alkaline Earth Salts on Au(111)

Template cations have been extensively employed in the formation, stabilization and regulation of structural polymorphism of G‐quadruplex structures in vitro. However, the direct addition of salts onto solid surfaces, especially under ultra‐high‐vacuum (UHV) conditions, to explore the feasibility and universality of the formation of G‐quartet complexes in a solventless environment has not been reported. By combining UHV‐STM imaging and DFT calculations, we have shown that three different G‐quartet‐M (M: Na/K/Ca) complexes can be obtained on Au(111) using alkali and alkaline earth salts as reactants. We have also identified the driving forces (intra‐quartet hydrogen bonding and electrostatic ionic bonding) for the formation of these complexes and quantified the interactions involved. Our results demonstrate a novel route to fabricate G‐quartet‐related complexes on solid surfaces, providing an alternative feasible way to bring metal elements to surfaces for constructing metal–organic systems.     

Intermixed Adatom and Surface‐Bound Adsorbates in Regular Self‐Assembled Monolayers of Racemic 2‐Butanethiol on Au(111)

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy combined with density functional theory molecular dynamics simulations reveal a complex structure for the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of racemic 2‐butanethiol on Au(111) in aqueous solution. Six adsorbate molecules occupy a (10×√3)R30° cell organized as two RSAuSR adatom‐bound motifs plus two RS species bound directly to face‐centered‐cubic and hexagonally close‐packed sites. This is the first time that these competing head‐group arrangements have been observed in the same ordered SAM. Such unusual packing is favored as it facilitates SAMs with anomalously high coverage (30 %), much larger than that for enantiomerically resolved 2‐butanethiol or secondary‐branched butanethiol (25 %) and near that for linear‐chain 1‐butanethiol (33 %).     

Constitutional Dynamics of Metal–Organic Motifs on a Au(111) Surface

Constitutional dynamic chemistry (CDC), including both dynamic covalent chemistry and dynamic noncovalent chemistry, relies on reversible formation and breakage of bonds to achieve continuous changes in constitution by reorganization of components. In this regard, CDC is considered to be an efficient and appealing strategy for selective fabrication of surface nanostructures by virtue of dynamic diversity. Although constitutional dynamics of monolayered structures has been recently demonstrated at liquid/solid interfaces, most of molecular reorganization/reaction processes were thought to be irreversible under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions where CDC is therefore a challenge to be achieved. Here, we have successfully constructed a system that presents constitutional dynamics on a solid surface based on dynamic coordination chemistry, in which selective formation of metal–organic motifs is achieved under UHV conditions. The key to making this reversible switching successful is the molecule–substrate interaction as revealed by DFT calculations.     

Long‐Range Chirality Recognition of a Polar Molecule on Au(111)

Chiral molecular self‐assemblies were usually achieved using short‐range intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen‐, metal–organic, and covalent bonding. However, unavoidable surface defects, such as step edges, surface reconstructions, or site dislocations may limit the applicability of short‐range chirality recognition. Long‐range chirality recognition on surfaces would be an appealing but challenging strategy for chiral reservation across surface defects at long distances. Now, long‐range chirality recognition is presented between neighboring 3‐bromo‐naphthalen‐2‐ol (BNOL) stripes on an inert Au(111) surface across the herringbone reconstruction as investigated by STM and DFT calculations. The key to achieving such recognition is the herringbone reconstruction‐induced local dipole accumulation at the edges of the BNOL stripes. The neighboring stripes are then forced to adopt the same chirality to create the opposite edged dipoles and neutralize the neighbored dipole moments.     

电势诱导的N-异丁酰基-L-半胱氨酸分子在金(111)表面的相转变

Functional solid substrates modified by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have potential applications in biosensors, chromatography, and biocompatible materials. The potential-induced phase transition of N-isobutyryl-L-cysteine (L-NIBC) SAMs on Au (111) surfaces was investigated by in-situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) in 0.1 mol·L^-1 H₂SO₄ solution. The NIBC SAMs with two distinct structures (α phase and β phase) can be prepared by immersing the Au (111) substrate in pure NIBC aqueous solution and NIBC solution controlled by phosphate buffer at pH 7, respectively. The as-prepared α phase and β phase of NIBC SAMs show various structural changes under the control of electrochemical potentials of the Au (111) in H₂SO₄ solution. The α phase NIBC SAMs exhibit structural changes from ordered to disordered structures with potential changes from 0.7 V (vs saturated calomel electrode, SCE) to 0.2 V. However, the β phase NIBC SAMs undergo structural changes from disordered structures (E < 0.3 V) to γ phase (0.4 V < E < 0.5 V) and finally to the β phase (0.5 V < E < 0.7 V). EC-STM images also indicate that the phase transition from the β phase NIBC SAMs to the α phase occurs at positive potential. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the phase transition from the β phase to the α phase is explained by the potential-induced break of bonding interactions between ——COO^- and the negatively charged gold surfaces.     

Au(111)表面Verdazyl自由基的构象转换

Pure organic radical molecules on metal surfaces are of great significance in exploration of the electron spin behavior. However, only a few of them are investigated in surface studies due to their poor thermal stability. The adsorption and conformational switching of two verdazyl radical molecules, namely, 1, 5-biisopropyl-3-(benzo[b]benzo[4,5]thieno[2, 3-d]thiophen-2-yl)-6-oxoverdazyl (B2P) and 1, 5-biisopropyl-3-(benzo[b]benzo[4,5]thieno[2, 3-d]thiophen-4-yl)-6-oxoverdazyl (B4P), are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT). The adsorbed B2P molecules on Au(111) form dimers, trimers and tetramers without any ordered assembly structure in which two distinct appearances of B2P in STM images are observed and assigned to be its "P" and "T" conformations. The "P" conformation molecules appear in the STM image with a large elliptical protrusion and two small ones of equal size, while the "T" ones appear with a large protrusion and two small ones of different size. Likewise, the B4P molecules on Au(111) form dimers at low coverage, strip structure at medium coverage and assembled structure at high coverage which also consists of above-mentioned two conformations. Both B2P molecules and B4P molecules are held together by weak intermolecular interaction rather than chemical bond. STM tip induced conformational switching of both verdayzl radicals is observed at the bias voltage of +2.0 V. The "T" conformation of B2P can be switched to the "P" while the "P" conformation of B4P can be switched to the "T" one. For both molecules, such a conformational switching is irreversible. The DFT calculations with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof version exchange-correlation functional are used to optimize the model structure and simulate the STM images. STM images of several possible molecular conformations with different isopropyl orientation and different tilt angle between verdazyl radical and Au(111) surface are simulated. For conformations with different isopropyl orientation, the STM simulated images are similar, while different tilt angles of verdazyl radical lead to significantly different STM simulated images. Combined STM experiments and DFT simulations reveal that the conformational switching originates from the change of tilting angle between the verdazyl radical and Au(111) surface. The tilt angles in "P" and "T" conformations are 0° and 50°, respectively. In this study, two different adsorption conformations of verdazyl radicals on the Au(111) surface are presented and their exact adsorption structures are identified. This study provides a possible way to study the relationship between the electron spin and configuration conversion of pure organic radical molecules and a reference for designing more conformational switchable radical molecules that can be employed as interesting molecular switches.     

Nucleation and growth of Ge nanoclusters on the Si(111)‐(7 × 7) surface studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

Nucleation and growth of two‐dimensional Ge nanoclusters on the Si(111)‐(7 × 7) surface at elevated substrate temperatures have been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy. The uniformity of the Ge nanoclusters is improved with the increase of substrate temperature, and ordered Ge nanoclusters are formed on the faulted and unfaulted halves of (7 × 7) unit cell at substrate temperature of 200 °C. It is proposed that the Ge nanoclusters consist of six Ge atoms with three on top of the center adatoms and others on the rest atoms within one half of a unit cell. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Dynamic Nature of CO Adlayers on Pt(111) Electrodes

CO adlayers on Pt(111) electrode surfaces are an important electrochemical system and of great relevance to electrocatalysis. The potential‐dependent structure and dynamics of these adlayers are complex and still controversial, especially in the CO pre‐oxidation regime. We here employ in situ high‐speed scanning tunneling microscopy for studying the surface phase behavior in CO‐saturated 0.1 m H₂SO₄ on the millisecond time scale. At potentials near the onset of CO pre‐oxidation local fluctuations in the (2×2)‐CO adlayer are observed, which increase towards more positive potentials. Above 0.20 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), this leads to an adlayer where CO_ad apparently reside on every top site, but still exhibit a (2×2) superstructure modulation. We interpret this observation as a dynamic effect, caused by a small number of highly mobile point defects in the (2×2)‐CO adlayer. As shown by density functional theory calculations, the CO lattice near such defects relaxes into a local (1×1) arrangement, which can rapidly propagate across the surface. This scenario, where a static (2×2) CO_ad sublattice coexists with a highly dynamic sublattice of partially occupied top sites, explains the pronounced CO_ad surface mobility during electrooxidation.     

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.     

On the possibility of an STM-induced dissociative electron transfer

The process of dissociative adsorption of a molecule on an electrode in a system of the type in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is investigated theoretically. It is shown that, in the case of fully nonadiabatic or partly adiabatic electron transfer, the presence of the tip of STM may either accelerate (or even induce) or decelerate the process of dissociation of the molecule, depending on the sign of the bias voltage. The maximum effect takes place in the case of strong interaction of the molecule with both electrodes (fully adiabatic electron transfer). In this limit, diagrams of kinetic modes, which mark off the boundaries between processes of different types possible in a given system, are constructed.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 273–284.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuznetsov, Medvedev.     

CO2在Fe3O4(111)表面的吸附结构及能量研究

利用密度泛函理论研究了CO₂在Fe₃O₄（111）表面Fe_tet1和Fe_oct2两种终结的吸附行为。在Fe_tet1终结表面,当覆盖度为1/5 ML时,CO₂倾向于线性吸附;而在高覆盖度下,弯曲的CO₂与表面O作用形成CO₃^2-结构。在Fe_oct2终结表面,CO₂倾向于弯曲吸附,在1/6 ML和1/3 ML覆盖度时都可以形成CO₃^2-和-COO结构。覆盖度对Fe_tet1终结的表面影响很弱,但是对Fe_oct2终结的表面影响很大。从热力学上来说,CO₂在Fe_oct2终结表面的吸附要比Fe_tet1终结表面更有利。     

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.