A. Robin, L. Marnell, P. S. Bermudez
Jul 8, 2009
Citations
1
Influential Citations
11
Citations
Journal
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Abstract
We report on a combined experimental and theoretical study of the adsorption of the paramagnetic organic radical 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-carboxypyrrolidine nitroxide (3-carboxyproxyl, 3CP) on a Cu(110) surface. Information from scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy, and periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals important insights into the nature of the molecule−metal interface. We find that the molecule is robustly anchored to the surface via the formation of two Cu−O bonds between the carboxylate functionality and specific short-bridge adsorption sites on the Cu(110) surface. The adsorbed organic radicals appear in STM as discrete entities on the surface and can be imaged with submolecular resolution. We observe a tendency for local 2D ordering. Importantly, 3CP molecules adopt a preferred site, dictated by the strong interaction of the carboxylate groups and the steric repulsion of the methyl groups with the surface which orient the molecular ...