Copyright © 1996 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Molecularly resolved observation of anisotropic intermolecular force in a formate-ion monolayer on a TiO2 (110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy
Received 17 August 1995;
References and further reading may be available for this article. To view references and further reading you must purchase this article.
Abstract
The diffusion kinetics of adsorbed formate ions have been observed on a TiO2 (110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) operated under ultrahigh vacuum. Formate ions in a desired area are removed without damage to the substrate, by rastering the monolayer with a high-biased STM tip. A patch of uncovered substrate is thus created in a (2 × 1)-formate monolayer. Time-resolved STM observation reveals the transport kinetics of individual formate ions filling the void. The anisotropic rate of migration suggests that a row of Ti ions exposed on the substrate presents a one-dimensional channel for formate transport. A significant anisotropy in formate-formate interaction is further postulated from the kinetics; a repulsive force between formate ions neighboring on a Ti row drives them to migrate, whereas an attractive force between formates on adjacent Ti-rows plays a secondary role in regulating overlayer structure. The present study shows how STM images document the anisotropy in intermolecular force regulating an adsorbate overlayer on a solid surface, by taking advantage of the relaxation of a nanometer-sized structure fabricated in the overlayer.
Author Keywords: Carboxylic acid; Intermolecular force; Nanostructure; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Surface diffusion; Titanium oxide







E-mail Article
Add to my Quick Links

Cited By in Scopus (27)





