Formation of unique trimer of nitric oxide on Cu(111)

A Shiotari; S Hatta; H Okuyama; T Aruga

doi:10.1063/1.4896558

Formation of unique trimer of nitric oxide on Cu(111)

J Chem Phys. 2014 Oct 7;141(13):134705. doi: 10.1063/1.4896558.

Authors

A Shiotari¹, S Hatta¹, H Okuyama¹, T Aruga¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.

PMID: 25296826
DOI: 10.1063/1.4896558

Abstract

We report that NO molecules unexpectedly prefer a trimeric configuration on Cu(111). We used scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at 6 K, and confirmed that the NO molecule is bonded to the face-centered-cubic hollow site in an upright configuration. The individual NO molecule is imaged as a ring protrusion, which is characteristic of the doubly degenerate 2π(*) orbital. A triangular trimer is thermodynamically more favorable than the monomer and dimer, and its bonding structure was characterized by STM manipulation. This unique behavior of NO on Cu(111) is ascribed to the threefold symmetry of the surface, facilitating effective mixing of the 2π(*) orbitals in a triangular configuration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Copper / chemistry*
Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
Nitric Oxide / chemistry*
Surface Properties

Substances

Nitric Oxide
Copper