The dynamics of gas-surface energy exchange in collisions of Ar atoms with ω-functionalized self-assembled monolayers

Abstract

Atomic-beam scattering experiments using n-alkanethiol and ω-functionalized alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold are employed to explore the dynamics of gas-surface energy exchange in collisions with model organic surfaces. The studies are performed by directing a nearly monoenergetic beam of 80 kJ/mol Ar atoms onto a particular SAM at an incident angle of 30° with respect to the surface normal and recording the time-of-flight distributions for the atoms as they scatter from the surface at a final angle of 30°. Among the monolayers studied, long-chain CH3-terminated SAMs are found to be the most effective at dissipating the translational energy of impinging atoms. For alkanethiols with greater than seven total carbon atoms (HS(CH2)n>6CH3), we find that, for specular scattering conditions, over 80% of the incident energy is transferred to the surface and that over 60% of the impinging atoms approach thermal equilibrium with the surface before scattering back into the gas phase. In contrast to CH3-terminated monolayers, SAMs constructed from hydrogen-bonding alkanethiols: HS(CH2)11OH, HS(CH2)10COOH, and HS(CH2)11NH2, exhibit characteristics of more rigid collision partners. The Ar atoms transfer about 77% of their energy to these surfaces with only 43% of the atoms reaching thermal or near thermal equilibrium before recoiling. Further comparisons of mixed OH- and CH3-terminated SAMs and alkene-terminated SAMs suggest that intramonolayer hydrogen bonding of terminal functional groups may play an important role in determining the extent of energy transfer and thermalization.