Adsorption and stability of π-bonded ethylene on GaP(110)

Miguel M. Ugeda, Min Yu, Aaron J. Bradley, Peter Doak, Wenjun Liu, Gary F. Moore, Ian D. Sharp, T. D. Tilley, Jeffrey B. Neaton, Michael F. Crommie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have investigated the structural and electronic properties of individual ethylene molecules on the GaP(110) surface by combining low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (LT-STM/STS) with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Isolated molecules were adsorbed on in situ cleaved GaP(110) surfaces through ethylene exposures at 300 K and 15 K. DFT calculations suggest two possible stable adsorption geometries for a single ethylene molecule on GaP(110) at low temperature. High-resolution STM images, however, reveal only one adsorption geometry for this system, consistent with the site having the largest computed binding energy. Unlike adsorption of ethylene on other metallic and semiconducting surfaces, ethylene physisorbs to GaP(110) through a weak hybridization of molecular π-states with substrate surface states, leaving the frontier molecular orbitals largely unperturbed. Differential conductivity spectra acquired on single molecules are consistent with self-energy corrected DFT calculations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)26091-26096
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume117
Issue number49
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 12 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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