Functionalization of Oxide Surfaces through Reaction with 1,3-Dialkylimidazolium Ionic Liquids.
Practical applications of ionic liquids (ILs) often involve IL/oxide interfaces, but little is known regarding their interfacial chemistry. The unusual physicochemical properties of ILs, including their exceptionally low vapor pressure, provide access to such interfaces using a surface science approach in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). We have applied synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-PES) to the study of a thin film of the ionic liquid [C6C1Im][Tf2N] prepared in situ in UHV on ordered stoichiometric CeO2(111) and partially reduced CeO2-x. On the partially reduced surface, we mostly observe decomposition of the anion. On the stoichiometric CeO2(111) surface, however, a layer of surface-anchored organic products with high thermal stability is formed upon reaction of the cation. The suggested acid-base reaction pathway may provide well-defined functionalized IL/solid interfaces on basic oxides.
Stefan
S
Schernich
Mathias
M
Laurin
Yaroslava
Y
Lykhach
Hans-Peter
HP
Steinrück
‡Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
Nataliya
N
Tsud
‡Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
Tomáš
T
Skála
§Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, Strada Statale 14, km163.5,34149 Basovizza-Trieste, Italy.
Kevin C
KC
Prince
Nicola
N
Taccardi
‡Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
Vladimír
V
Matolín
Peter
P
Wasserscheid
Jörg
J
Libuda
cerium oxide; chemical reaction; photoelectron spectroscopy (PES; XPS); resonant photoelectron spectroscopy; surface science; synchrotron light; thin film