UPS study of cyanogen adsorbed on Pt(100)

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra for adsorbed cyanogen on Pt(100) are presented and discussed in terms of possible models for the different adsorption states detected by other surface techniques. Taking the gas phase spectra of C₂N₂ and HCN as guidance interpretation of the various cyanogen induced features is attempted as follows: A prominent peak 6 eV below the Fermi level is ascribed to the overlapping π and nitrogen lone-pair orbitals, whereas a weak, broad feature around 16 eV is assigned to CC π bonds present in the absorbate layer. A feature within the Pt d-band region at 3 eV is tentatively associated with the “back-bonding” from filled metal d-band states into empty 2π^* states of the absorbate.