An IETS study of the chemisorption of 1,2- and 1,4-diaminobenzene on thin-film plasma-grown aluminium oxide

Abstract

The inelastic electron tunnelling spectra of 1,2- and 1,4-diaminobenzene on thin-film plasma-grown aluminium oxide suggests that these molecules are adsorbed on this surface via Lewis acid—Lewis base and hydrogen-bonded interactions, with chelate formation at the surface likely in the case of the 1,2-diamino compound. Protonation of nitrogen in both structures is also considered given the spectral features observed. In both adsorbates the ring plane is believed to be near perpendicular with respect to the local oxide surface.