Vibration spectroscopy of benzene adsorbed on Pt(111) and Ni(111)

High resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy has been applied to study the adsorption of benzene (C₆H₆ and C₆D₆) on Pt(111) and Ni(111) single crystal surfaces between 140 and 320 K. The vibrational spectra provide evidence that benzene is chemisorbed with its ring parallel to the surface, predominantly π bonded to the platinum and nickel surface respectively. A significant frequency increase of the CH-out-of-plane bending mode, largest in the case of platinum, is observed compared to the free molecule. On both metals two phases of benzene exist simultaneously, characterized by a different frequency shift. The shifts are explained by electronic interaction between the metal d-orbitals and molecules adsorbed in on top and threefold hollow sites respectively. The vibrational spectra of the multilayer condensed phase of benzene exhibit the infrared active modes of the gasphase molecule as expected.