Ultraviolet photoelectron yield spectroscopy (UPYS) was applied to the characterization of Langmuir
layers of the amphiphilic Ru complex at the air/water interface in ambient conditions. The UPY spectra
were successfully obtained for Langmuir layers of the complex in the surface concentration range of 0.14−2.1 molecule nm-2, and the photoelectron emission threshold energy, E
t, and photoelectron emission
efficiency, α, were determined for the respective surface concentrations. The E
t value was constant at lower
surface concentration and decreased as the surface concentration of the complex was increased. The decrease
in the E
t value is considered to be due to the decrease in the distance between the Ru complexes in the
two-dimensional gas phase and the following aggregation or crystallization considering the polarization
effect on the photoionization hole state. The dependence of the α value upon the surface concentration of
the complex also indicates the change in structure of the Langmuir layer of the Ru complex on the water
surface. It is concluded that UPYS is applicable to the in situ characterization of Langmuir layers of
photosensitive molecules at the air/water interface.
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