The structure of benzene deposited on a Cu(111) surface has been investigated by a combination of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements. The results indicate that benzene forms a stable bilayer on Cu(ll1) at 110 K prior to multilayer formation. The TPD studies show that the second layer benzene desorbs with a peak temperature 5 K higher than that for benzene multilayers. HREELS and NEXAFS results indicate that benzene in the first layer bonds with its T ring parallel to the surface. With increasing coverage, benzene forms a second layer with its GT ring significantly tilted away from the surface. The results are consistent with an approximately perpendicular configuration between the first and second layer benzene molecules, which is analogous to the structure of crystalline benzene. Isotope labeling experiments indicate there is almost complete mixing between molecules in different layers during sequential adsorption at 110 K.

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The addition of hydrogen atoms to ethylene and benzene on a Cu(111) surface has been studied by temperature-programmed desorption and integrated desorption mass spectrometry. The results show that adsorbed ethylene and benzene react with atomic hydrogen from the gas phase at temperatures as low as 110 K. The reaction intermediates, ethyl groups and partially hydrogenated benzene, can be isolated on the surface at this low temperature. When the surface is heated to above 150 K, hydrogen elimination reactions occur to produce ethylene, benzene, cyclohexadiene, and cyclohexene. Complete hydrogenation to alkanes also occurs for larger H-atom exposures. The absence of these addition reactions when H atoms are adsorbed onto the surface before ethylene or benzene suggests Eley–Rideal mechanisms for these processes.