The adsorption structure of glycine adsorbed on Cu(110); comparison with formate and [formula omitted

Abstract

The molecular orientation of an ordered monolayer of glycine adsorbed on Cu(110) has been studied using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS), X-ray Photoelectron Diffraction (XPD), Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and theoretical calculations. In particular, the NEXAFS results are discussed in terms of the spectra of the related molecules ammonia (NH 3), formate (HCOO), and acetate (CH 3COO) on Cu(110). Whereas the latter two molecules chemisorb in similar geometries, glycine is found to assume a very different chemisorption geometry. Formate and acetate bond through two equivalent oxygen atoms with the molecular plane oriented nearly perpendicular to the surface, aligned along the [11̄0]-azimuth. In the case of adsorbed glycine (NH 2CH 2COO), the azimuthal orientation is still present, i.e. the bonding oxygen atoms are aligned along the [11̄0]-azimuth, but the molecule is found to bend towards the surface. A second chemisorption bond is formed at the nitrogen end of the molecule, involving copper atoms in the neighboring [11̄0]-row. We therefore have the interesting case of a chemisorption bond involving different functional groups in the same molecule.