Cu-adatom-mediated bonding in close-packed benzoate/Cu(110)-systems.
Using UHV-STM investigations and density-functional theory calculations we prove the contribution of Cu-adatoms to the stabilization of a new high-density phase of benzoate molecules on a Cu(110) substrate. We show that two different chemical species, benzoate and benzoate Cu-adatoms molecules, build the new close-packed structure. Although both species bind strongly to the copper surface, we identify the benzoate Cu-adatoms molecules as the more mobile species on the surface due to their reduced dipole moment and their lower binding energy compared to benzoate molecules. Therefore, the self-assembly process is supposed to be mediated by benzoate Cu-adatom species, which is analogous to the gold-thiolate species on Au(111) surfaces.
Lennartz
M Christina
MC
Institute for Solid State Research and JARA-FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany.
Atodiresei
Nicolae
N
Muller-Meskamp
Lars
L
Karthauser
Silvia
S
Waser
Rainer
R
Blugel
Stefan
S
D001565:Benzoates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D001565:Benzoates; D003300:Copper