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.     

The local structure of SO2 and SO3 on Ni(1 1 1)

The normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) technique, supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), has been used to determine the local adsorption geometry of SO₂ and SO₃ on Ni(1 1 1). Chemical-state specific NIXSW data for coadsorbed SO₃ and S, formed by the disproportionation of adsorbed SO₂ after heating from 140 K to 270 K, were obtained using S 1s photoemission detection. For adsorbed SO₂ at 140 K the new results confirm those of an earlier study [Jackson et al., Surf. Sci. 389 (1997) 223] that the molecule is located above hollow sites with its molecular plane parallel to the surface and the S and O atoms in off-atop sites; corrections to account for the non-dipole effects in the interpretation of the NIXSW monitored by S 1s and O 1s photoemission, not included in the earlier work, remove the need for any significant adsorption-induced distortion of the SO₂ in this structure. SO₃, not previously investigated, is found to occupy an off-bridge site with the C_3v axis slightly tilted relative to the surface normal and with one O atom in an off-atop site and the other two O atoms roughly between bridge and hollow sites. The O atoms are approximately 0.87 Å closer to the surface than the S atom. This general bonding orientation for SO₃ is similar to that found on Cu(1 1 1) and Cu(1 0 0) both experimentally and theoretically, although the detailed adsorption sites differ.     

Dynamic surface behaviour of VPO catalysts under reactive and non-reactive gas compositions: an in situ XAS study

The surface of an activated vanadium phosphorus oxide (VPO) catalyst was investigated by means of in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the total electron yield mode. We observed significant changes of the V L₃-near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) when the material was transferred from room temperature to working conditions at 400 °C in the reaction atmosphere. We studied the same VPO material under different gas compositions comprising the reaction mixture of n-butane and oxygen, pure oxygen and vacuum to elucidate the influence of the gas–surface interaction and the effect of the temperature. The results of this extensive study indicate a dynamic response of the catalyst surface to the applied conditions.     

The local structure of SO2 and SO3 on Ni(1 1 1): A scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction study

O 1s and S 2p scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction (PhD) data, combined with multiple-scattering simulations, have been used to determine the local adsorption geometry of the SO₂ and SO₃ species on a Ni(1 1 1) surface. For SO₂, the application of reasonable constraints on the molecular conformation used in the simulations leads to the conclusion that the molecule is centred over hollow sites on the surface, with the molecular plane essentially parallel to the surface, and with both S and O atoms offset from atop sites by almost the same distance of 0.65 Å. For SO₃, the results are consistent with earlier work which concluded that surface bonding is through the O atoms, with the S atom higher above the surface and the molecular symmetry axis almost perpendicular to the surface. Based on the O 1s PhD data alone, three local adsorption geometries are comparably acceptable, but only one of these is consistent with the results of an earlier normal-incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) study. This optimised structural model differs somewhat from that originally proposed in the NIXSW investigation.     

Adsorption of 5-halouracils on Au(111)

The immobilization of 5-halouracils on Au(111) has been studied by soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Multilayer and monolayer films of 5-chlorouracil were deposited on the Au(111) surface by evaporation in vacuum while films of 5-bromouracil were absorbed in two modes: from the gas phase under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and from solution. The photoemission spectra of C, N and O 1s, Br 3d and Cl 2p as well as the absorption spectra at the N and O K-edges were measured for monolayers of 5-halouracil films and the nature of the bonding with the Au(111) surface has been determined. From the angular dependence of the NEXAFS spectra at the O and K-edges, we conclude that these 5-halouracils are lying nearly parallel to the Au(111) surface. Distinct chemical states and surface adsorption geometry of the 5-BrU molecules for monolayer coverage prepared in two different ways have been found.     

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.     

Na/Si(111)3×1表面的NEXAFS研究

利用同步辐射光源测量Na2s二次电子部分产额谱得到Na诱导Si（111）3×1结构的近边Ｘ射线吸收精细结构（NEXAFS）谱，并用原子集团多重散射方法对几种可能的模型进行计算，与实验结果比较，认为Na/Si（111）3×1吸附结构与Mnch模型相一致．Na原子吸附在Si的顶位，Na—Si键长为0.3nm． 关键词：     

The adsorption and stability of sulfur containing amino acids on Cu{5 3 1}

The adsorption of l-cysteine and l-methionine amino acids on a chiral Cu{5 3 1} surface was investigated with high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and carbon K-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) Spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. XPS shows that at 300 K l-cysteine adsorbs through two oxygen, a nitrogen and a sulfur atom, in a four point ‘quadrangular footprint’, whereas l-methionine adsorbs through only two oxygen and a nitrogen atom in a ‘triangular footprint’. NEXAFS was used to clarify the adsorption geometry of both molecules, which suggests a binding orientation to the top layer and second layer atoms in two different orientations associated with adsorption sites on {1 1 0} and {3 1 1} microfacets of the Cu{5 3 1} surface.     

Theoretical study on adsorption of thiophenethiolate molecule on Au(1 1 1) surface

We have theoretically studied the adsorption of a thiophenethiolate (C₄H₃S-S) molecule on the Au(1 1 1) surface by first-principles calculations. It is found that the bridge site is the most stable adsorption site with the adsorption energy of 1.02 eV. In the optimized adsorption geometry, the bond between the head S atom and the connected C atom in the tail thiophene molecule is tilted by 57.2° from the surface normal. In addition, the adsorption of thiophenethiolate induces large relaxations of the surface Au atoms around it. Furthermore, weak interactions between the S atom in the tail thiophene ring and the Au atoms also contribute to the adsorption on the Au surface.     

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 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).     

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.     

Investigating the fine structure of near-edge X-ray absorption in the molecular spectra of C60F18 adsorbed on a single nickel crystal

Angular dependences of the fine structure of near-edge X-ray absorption (NEXAFS) of carbon C1s spectra are obtained for a monolayer film of C₆₀F₁₈ polar molecules on a Ni (100) substrate. The fine structure and angular dependences of these spectra are interpreted using calculation data obtained by the density functional method upon fitting NEXAFS spectra by the set of trial functions. It is shown that during deposition, the dipole moment of molecules is oriented perpendicular to the surface and fluorine atoms are the ones closest to the surface.     

In-situ formation and detailed analysis of imine bonds for the construction of conjugated aromatic monolayers on Au(111)

We present the synthesis of 4′-amino-4-mercaptobiphenyl (AMB) and its deposition from solution onto Au(111) substrates. The resulting organic thin films were characterized by contact angle, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements. It is demonstrated that the majority of AMB molecules are coupled to the gold surface via S–Au covalent bonds, although only little orientational order of the AMB layer could be detected by NEXAFS. Furthermore, aromatic imine bonds between AMB and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HB), 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (CB), 4-methylbenzaldehyde (MB), or 4-(trifluoromethyl) benzaldehyde (TMB) have been successfully formed. As a result of the limited order, this coupling reaction was incomplete. Nevertheless, the experimental results confirmed the formation of conjugated aromatic imine bonds.     

Molecular adsorption and growth of naphthalene films on Ag(1 0 0)

The adsorption of naphthalene, vacuum deposited on a Ag(1 0 0) surface, was comprehensively investigated by means of low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), temperature-programmed thermal desorption (TPD) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and polarization-dependent near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy in the mono- and multilayer regime. A growth of long-range ordered monolayer at 140 K is observed with LEED. The polarization-dependent C 1s NEXAFS shows that the naphthalene molecules in the monolayer lie almost parallel to the Ag(1 0 0) surface. With increasing film thickness, the molecular orientation turns to upright position. Furthermore, NEXAFS measurements show that in the multilayer regime the molecular orientation depends on the substrate temperature during deposition.     

In-situ measurement of molecular orientation of the pentacene ultrathin films grown on SiO2 substrates

Molecular orientations of pentacene ultrathin films grown on SiO₂ substrates were studied without the influence of the atmosphere by vacuum atomic force microscopy (V-AFM) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). The experimental processes from deposition of pentacene to characterization of films were performed under vacuum condition without exposure to the atmosphere. V-AFM and NEXAFS measurements showed that pentacene molecules tend to grow on SiO₂ surface with their molecular long axes perpendicular to the substrate surfaces (standing-mode) irrespective of preparation procedure of SiO₂ substrate.     

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.     

Geometrical characterization of adenine and guanine on Cu(1 1 0) by NEXAFS, XPS, and DFT calculation

Adsorption of purine DNA bases (guanine and adenine) on Cu(1 1 0) was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS), and density-functional theory (DFT) calculation. At coverages near 0.2 monolayers, Angular-resolved NEXAFS analysis revealed that adenine adsorbates lie almost flat and that guanine adsorbates are tilted up on the surface with the purine ring parallel to the atom rows of Cu(1 1 0). Referring to the previous studies on pyrimidine DNA bases [M. Furukawa, H. Fujisawa, S. Katano, H. Ogasawara, Y. Kim, T. Komeda, A. Nilsson, M. Kawai, Surf. Sci. 532-535 (2003) 261], the isomerization of DNA bases on Cu(1 1 0) was found to play an important role in the adsorption geometry. Guanine, thymine and cytosine adsorption have an amine-type nitrogen next to a carbonyl group, which is dehydrogenated into imine nitrogen on Cu(1 1 0). These bases are bonded by the inherent portion of -NH-CO- altered by conversion into enolic form and dehydrogenation. Adenine contains no CO group and is bonded to Cu(1 1 0) by participation of the inherent amine parts, resulting in nearly flatly-lying position.     

Strain effects in epitaxially grown La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films

We report here on an X-ray absorption study of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ films epitaxially grown on SrTiO₃ substrate. The local organization around Mn in oriented films with 600 Å in thickness was investigated by polarized Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure. The angle between electric field vector and film surface was set equal to 5° and 70° to investigate almost independently the contribution of the manganese neighbors situated in and out of the film plane. The first neighboring shell oxygen is found to be the same in both geometries, but small changes in the next neighboring contribution are observed. These changes are associated with variation in the Mn–Mn bond length. A small in-plane elongation (3%) is observed in the constrained films with respect to the unconstrained case.     

A study of the interaction between perylene and the TiO2(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface-based on XPS, UPS and NEXAFS measurements

The interaction between a semi-large aromatic hydrocarbon compound (perylene) and the TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface under ultra high vacuum conditions has been probed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) methods. UPS measurements of the adsorbate system have been compared with an experimental UPS spectrum of perylene in the gas phase and a calculated spectrum obtained by means of density functional theory (DFT) methods. NEXAFS results of perylene molecules adsorbed on TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) were compared with data from an α-phase perylene single crystal. A novel analysis of the valence data has been employed to show that no strong chemical interaction takes place between perylene and the TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface. Furthermore, angle-dependent NEXAFS measurements and the growth curve results suggest that the perylene molecules are oriented flat down onto the TiO₂ substrate due to weak van der Waals interactions.