Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to study the reaction between gas-phase atomic radicals and surface-adsorbed organic monolayers.  The changes observed in surface structure depend on both the identity of the gas-phase reagent and the composition of the surface.  For example, exposure to atomic chlorine results in a loss of order, accompanied by alkane-chain cross-linking and chlorination; reaction with atomic hydrogen, in contrast, is more likely to strip organics from the surface completely.  The design and construction of a cryogenically cooled STM for gas-surface reaction studies in ultra-high vacuum allows for a more detailed investigation of these systems, including the potential trapping of reactive intermediates.

Surface reactions of gas-phase atomic radicals with alkanethiolate monolayers

249th National Meeting (2015)

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