Benzene adsorption on a single-domain Si(001)-(2×1) surface has been studied by thermal desorption spectroscopy (TPD) and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS) using linearly polarized synchrotron radiation. Angle-resolved photoemission spectra for the saturated benzene layer exhibit well-defined polarization and azimuthal dependencies compatible with a flat-lying benzene molecule with local C2v symmetry. Based on these results two structure models are proposed. First-principles density functional cluster calculations have been performed for each of these structures. Total energy minimization and a detailed comparison of the experimental ARUPS spectra with the one-particle spectra of the model clusters leads to a 1,4-cyclohexadienelike adsorption complex with a flat-lying benzene molecule which is di-σ bonded to the two dangling bonds of a single Si–Si surface dimer. Especially, one of the unoccupied 1e2u (π*) orbitals of the free benzene molecule shifts down (by about 3 eV) and evolves into the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the chemisorbed molecule.

The dispersion of quantum-well resonances in ultrathin epitaxial Al films on Si(111) reveals energy- and wave vector-dependent reflection properties at the Al/Si interface. The substrate electronic structure strongly influences the phase shift of the electron waves upon reflection at the interface. Thus the details of the substrate electronic structure need to be taken into account for a complete analysis of metallic quantum-well resonances. Furthermore, the assumption of loss of parallel wave vector information upon reflection or transmission through a lattice-mismatched interface is challenged. The changes induced in the electronic structure of the overlayer can be used to probe the ground-state substrate band edges.

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Electron confinement in thin films of Pb on Cu(111) leads to the formation of quantum well states, formed out of the upper valence band of Pb. Their evolution as a function of film thickness is characterized in angle-resolved photoemission and can be interpreted in terms of a straightforward quantum well model. This permits an identification of film growth mode at low temperatures. Bringing the films into thermal equilibrium by annealing induces strong changes in the spectra. Their interpretation demonstrates that specific "magic" layers are preferred because of total energy minimization induced by the arrangement of quantum well states with respect to the Fermi level.