The surface structure of 1-bromo-2-chloroethane on Cu(111)

Abstract

The structure of 1-bromo-2-chloroethane (BCE) molecularly adsorbed on Cu(111) and the adsorption sites of chemisorbed chlorine and bromine coadsorbed with the BCE have been determined using the normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) method. Two Bragg reflections, the (111) and (1¯11), were used to triangulate the positions of the chlorine and bromine atoms in the BCE molecule and the chemisorbed species. The temperature used during the study, 130 K, allowed partial decomposition of the BCE to chemisorbed halogens and gaseous ethene. The resulting surface, consisting of ∼0.05 ML each of chemisorbed chlorine and bromine and ∼0.20 ML of physisorbed BCE, was stable to further decomposition. The chemisorbed halogens adsorbed in the hcp hollow sites, while the BCE molecule bonded to the surface at an atop site via the bromine atom at a distance of 2.63 ± 0.2A˚ from the surface plane of the copper. The molecule was tilted with the Br…Cl distance at an angle of ∼11° to the surface, the chlorine being located approximately over an hcp site at a distance of 3.48 ± 0.2A˚ above the surface plane of the copper. The coherent fractions for the bromine and chlorine in the BCE molecule indicated that the molecule could undergo large amplitude vibrations both parallel to and perpendicular to the surface by pivoting about the bromine end.