Susanne Mohr

Structure-Dependent Anchoring of Organic Molecules to Atomically Defined Oxide Surfaces: Phthalic Acid on Co3O4(111), CoO(100), and CoO(111).

We have performed a model study to explore the influence of surface structure on the anchoring of organic molecules on oxide materials. Specifically, we have investigated the adsorption of phthalic acid (PA) on three different, well-ordered, and atomically defined cobalt oxide surfaces, namely 1) Co3O4(111), 2) CoO(111), and 3) CoO(100) on Ir(100). PA was deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD). The formation of the PA films and interfacial reactions were monitored in situ during growth by isothermal time-resolved IR reflection absorption spectroscopy (TR-IRAS) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. We observed a pronounced structure dependence on the three surfaces with three distinctively different binding geometries and characteristic differences depending on the temperature and coverage. 1) PA initially binds to Co3O4(111) through the formation of a chelating bis-carboxylate with the molecular plane oriented perpendicularly to the surface. Similar species were observed both at low temperature (130 K) and at room temperature (300 K). With increasing exposure, chelating mono-carboxylates became more abundant and partially replaced the bis-carboxylate. 2) PA binds to CoO(100) in the form of a bridging bis-carboxylate for low coverage. Upon prolonged deposition of PA at low temperature, the bis-carboxylates were converted into mono-carboxylate species. In contrast, the bis-carboxylate layer was very stable at 300 K. 3) For CoO(111) we observed a temperature-dependent change in the adsorption mechanism. Although PA binds as a mono-carboxylate in a bridging bidentate fashion at low temperature (130 K), a strongly distorted bis-carboxylate was formed at 300 K, possibly as a result of temperature-dependent restructuring of the surface. The results show that the adsorption geometry of PA depends on the atomic structure of the oxide surface. The structure dependence can be rationalized by the different arrangements of cobalt ions at the three surfaces.

Molecular Orientation and Structural Transformations in Phthalic Anhydride Thin Films on MgO(100)/Ag(100)

Structural control of organic thin films on dielectric substrates is the key to tailoring the physical properties of hybrid materials, for example, for application in solar energy conversion, molecular electronics, or catalysis. In this work, we investigate the molecular orientation of phthalic anhydride (PAA) films on atomically well-defined MgO(100) on Ag(100) using temperature-programmed infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (TP-IRAS) in combination with density-functional theory (DFT). A robust procedure is presented to determine the orientation of the PAA molecules, which relies on the intensity ratios of vibrational bands only. We show that even at deposition temperatures of 110 K, the PAA multilayer grows with a specific molecular orientation; that is, the PAA molecular plane is preferentially aligned parallel with the MgO surface. No change of molecular orientation occurs up to a temperature of 145 K. Between 145 and 160 K, the film restructures adopting a nearly flat-lying molecular orientation. Between 170 and 205 K, the film undergoes a second structural transition to a crystalline phase. This transition is associated with a pronounced molecular reorientation. The molecules adopt a tilted orientation and, simultaneously, rotate around their C2 axes. The reorientation behavior suggests that the molecular orientation in the crystalline phase is controlled by the interaction with the MgO(100) substrate. At higher temperature, no further restructuring is observed until the PAA multilayer desorbs at temperatures above 230 K.

Functionalized Porphyrins on an Atomically Defined Oxide Surface: Anchoring and Coverage-Dependent Reorientation of MCTPP on Co3O4(111).

We have studied the adsorption of tetraphenylporphyrin (2HTPP) and its carboxylated counterpart mono-para-carboxyphenyltriphenylporphyrin (MCTPP) on an atomically defined Co3O4(111) film under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. Using time-resolved infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (TR-IRAS), we show that 2HTPP adsorbs molecularly in a flat-lying orientation, whereas MCTPP binds to the surface via formation of a chelating bidentate carboxylate upon deposition at 400 K. Combining TR-IRAS and density-functional theory (DFT), we determine the molecular tilting angle as a function of coverage. We show that the MCTPP adsorption geometry changes from a nearly flat-lying orientation (tilting angle <30°) at low coverage to a nearly perfectly upright-standing orientation (tilting angle of approximately 80°) in the full monolayer.

Catalytically Triggered Energy Release from Strained Organic Molecules: The Surface Chemistry of Quadricyclane and Norbornadiene on Pt(111)

We have investigated the surface chemistry of the polycyclic valence-isomer pair norbornadiene (NBD) and quadricyclane (QC) on Pt(111). The NBD/QC system is considered to be a prototype for energy storage in strained organic compounds. By using a multimethod approach, including UV photoelectron, high-resolution X-ray photoelectron, and IR reflection-absorption spectroscopic analysis and DFT calculations, we could unambiguously identify and differentiate between the two molecules in the multilayer phase, which implies that the energy-loaded QC molecule is stable in this state. Upon adsorption in the (sub)monolayer regime, the different spectroscopies yielded identical spectra for NBD and QC at 125 and 160u2005K, when multilayer desorption takes place. This behavior is explained by a rapid cycloreversion of QC to NBD upon contact with the Pt surface. The NBD adsorbs in a η2 :η1 geometry with an agostic Pt-H interaction of the bridgehead CH2 subunit and the surface. Strong spectral changes are observed between 190 and 220u2005K because the hydrogen atom that forms the agostic bond is broke. This reaction yields a norbornadienyl intermediate species that is stable up to approximately 380u2005K. At higher temperatures, the molecule dehydrogenates and decomposes into smaller carbonaceous fragments.

Coverage-Dependent Anchoring of 4,4′-Biphenyl Dicarboxylic Acid to CoO(111) Thin Films

We investigated the adsorption behavior of 4,4-biphenhyl dicarboxylic acid (BDA) on well-ordered CoO(111) films grown on Ir(100) as a function of coverage and temperature using time-resolved and temperature-programmed infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (TR-IRAS, TP-IRAS) in combination with density functional theory (DFT) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. To compare the binding behavior of BDA as a function of the oxide film thickness, three different CoO(111) film thicknesses were explored: films of about 20 bilayers (BLs) (approximately 5 nm), 2 BLs, and 1 BL. The two carboxylic acid groups of BDA offer two potential anchoring points to the oxide surface. At 150 K, intact BDA adsorbs on 20 BL thick oxide films in planar geometry with the phenyl rings aligned parallel to the surface. With decreasing oxide film thickness, we observe an increasing tendency for deprotonation and the formation of flat-lying BDA molecules anchored as dicarboxylates. After saturation of the first monolayer, intact BDA multilayers grow with molecules aligned parallel to the surface. The BDA multilayer desorbs at around 360 K. Completely different growth behavior is observed if BDA is deposited above the multilayer desorption temperature. Initially, doubly deprotonated dicarboxylates are formed by adopting a flat-lying orientation. With increasing exposure, however, the adsorbate layer transforms into upright standing monocarboxylates. A sharp OH stretching band (3584 cm-1) and a blue-shifted CO stretching band (1759 cm-1) indicate weakly interacting apical carboxylic acid groups at the vacuum interface. The anchored monocarboxylate phase slowly desorbs in a temperature range of up to 470 K. At higher temperature, a flat-lying doubly deprotonated BDA is formed, which desorbs and decomposes in a temperature range of up to 600 K.

Model Catalytic Studies of Novel Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers: Indole, Indoline and Octahydroindole on Pt(111)

Indole derivatives were recently proposed as potential liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) for storage of renewable energies. In this work, we have investigated the adsorption, dehydrogenation and degradation mechanisms in the indole/indoline/octahydroindole system on Pt(111). We have combined infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and DFT calculations. Indole multilayers show a crystallization transition at 200u2005K, in which the molecules adopt a strongly tilted orientation, before the multilayer desorbs at 220u2005K. For indoline, a less pronounced restructuring transition occurs at 150u2005K and multilayer desorption is observed at 200u2005K. Octahydroindole multilayers desorb already at 185u2005K, without any indication for restructuring. Adsorbed monolayers of all three compounds are stable up to room temperature and undergo deprotonation at the NH bond above 300u2005K. For indoline, the reaction is followed by partial dehydrogenation at the 5-membered ring, leading to the formation of a flat-lying di-σ-indolide in the temperature range from 330-390u2005K. Noteworthy, the same surface intermediate is formed from indole. In contrast, the reaction of octahydroindole with Pt(111) leads to the formation of a different intermediate, which originates from partial dehydrogenation of the 6-membered ring. Above 390u2005K, all three compounds again form the same strongly dehydrogenated and partially decomposed surface species.

Structure-Dependent Dissociation of Water on Cobalt Oxide

Understanding the correlation between structure and reactivity of oxide surfaces is vital for the rational design of catalytic materials. In this work, we demonstrate the exceptional degree of structure sensitivity of the water dissociation reaction for one of the most important materials in catalysis and electrocatalysis. We studied H2O on two atomically defined cobalt oxide surfaces, CoO(100) and Co3O4(111). Both surfaces are terminated by O2- and Co2+ in different coordination. By infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy we show that H2O adsorbs molecularly on CoO(100), while it dissociates and forms very strongly bound OH and partially dissociated (H2O) n(OH) m clusters on Co3O4(111). We rationalize this structure dependence by the coordination number of surface Co2+. Our results show that specific well-ordered cobalt oxide surfaces interact very strongly with H2O whereas others do not. We propose that this structure dependence plays a key role in catalysis with cobalt oxide nanomaterials.