Dynamics of Energy Transfer in Collisions of O(3P) Atoms with a 1-Decanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayer Surface

Abstract

Chemical dynamics simulations are reported of energy transfer in collisions of O(3P) atoms with a 300 K 1-decanethiol self-assembled monolayer (H-SAM) surface. The simulations are performed with a nonreactive potential energy surface, developed from PMP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations of the O(3P) + H-SAM intermolecular potential, and the simulation results represent the energy transfer dynamics in the absence of O(3P) reaction. Collisions energies E(i) of 0.12, 2.30, 11.2, 75.0, and 120.5 kcal/mol and incident angles theta(i) of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 degrees were considered in the study (theta(i) = 0 degrees is the surface normal). The translational energy distribution of the scattered O(3P) atoms, P(E(f)), may be deconvoluted into Boltzmann and non-Boltzmann components, with the former fraction identified as f(B). The trajectories are also analyzed in terms of three types; that is, direct scattering from and physisorption on the top of the H-SAM and penetration of the H-SAM. There are three energy regimes in the scattering dynamics. For the low E(i) values of 0.12 and 2.30 kcal/mol, physisorption is important and both f(B) and the average final translational energy of the scattered O(3P) atom, E(f), are nearly independent of the incident angle. The dynamics is much different for hyperthermal energies of 75.0 and 120.5 kcal/mol, where penetration of the surface is important. For hyperthermal collisions, the penetration probability decreases as theta(i) is increased, with a significant transition between theta(i) of 60 and 75 degrees . Hyperthermal penetration occurs upon initial surface impact and is more probable if the impinging O(3P) atom may move down a channel between the chains. For E(i) = 120.5 kcal/mol, 90% of the trajectories penetrate at theta(i) = 15 degrees , while only 3% penetrate at theta(i) = 75 degrees. For the former theta(i), the energy transfer to the surface is efficient with E(f) = 4.04 kcal/mol, but for the latter theta(i), E(f) = 85.3 kcal/mol! Particularly interesting penetrating trajectories are those in which O(3P) is trapped in the H-SAM for times exceeding 60 ps, linger near the Au substrate, and strike the Au substrate and scatter directly. For E(i) = 11.2 kcal/mol, there is a transition between the scattering dynamics for the low and hyperthermal collision energies. Additional detail in the energy transfer dynamics is obtained from the final polar and azimuthal angles, the residence time on/in the H-SAM, the minimum height with respect to the Au substrate, and the number of inner turning points in the O-atom's velocity. Calculated values of E(f) vs the final polar angle, theta(f), are in qualitative agreement with experiment. The O(3P) + H-SAM nonreactive energy transfer dynamics, for E(i) of 11.2 kcal/mol and lower, are very similar to previously reported Ne + H-SAM simulations.