Reflection absorption infrared study of the adsorption of dimethylamine on copper (1 1 0) and nickel (1 1 1) surfaces

The adsorption of dimethylamine on Cu(1 1 0) and Ni(1 1 1) has been studied by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy. For Cu(1 1 0), adsorption was molecular at 80 and 300 K and for submonolayer dimethylamine the appearance of A′ and not A″ modes indicated C_s symmetry. Similar bonding was found for Ni(1 1 1) at 170 K. Annealing the adlayer to 350 K resulted in the formation of a new species on Ni(1 1 1), similar to that which has been identified as methylaminocarbyne on Pt(1 1 1). In contrast only molecular dimethylamine was identified on Cu(1 1 0), with H-bonded interactions at high coverage and a potential surface dimer.