We
have investigated the anchoring of the molecular energy carrier
norbornadiene (NBD) to an atomically defined oxide surface. To this
end, we synthesized a carboxyl-functionalized NBD derivative, namely
1-(2′-norbornadienyl)pentanoic acid (NBDA), and deposited
it by physical vapor deposition (PVD) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV)
conditions onto a well-ordered Co3O4(111) film
grown on Ir(100). In addition, we performed a comparative growth study
with benzoic acid (BA) under identical conditions which was used as
a reference. The interaction and orientation of NBDA and BA with the
oxide surface were monitored in situ during film growth by isothermal
time-resolved infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (TR-IRAS),
both below and above the multilayer desorption temperature. The thermal
behavior and stability of the films were investigated by temperature-programmed
IRAS (TP-IRAS), with help of density functional (DF) calculations.
BA binds to Co3O4(111) under formation of a
symmetric chelating carboxylate with the molecular plane oriented
nearly perpendicular to the surface. At low temperature (130 K), intact
BA physisorbs in form of dimers on top of the saturated monolayer.
Upon annealing to 155 K, a reordering transition is observed, in which
BA in the multilayer adopts a more flat-lying orientation. The BA
multilayer desorbs at 220 K, whereas the surface-anchored BA monolayer
is stable up to 400 K. At higher temperature (400–550 K), desorption
and decomposition are observed. Very similar to BA, NBDA binds to
Co3O4(111) by formation of a symmetric chelating
carboxylate. In the multilayer, which desorbs at 240 K, hydrogen-bonded
NBDA dimers are formed. Upon PVD of NBDA at 300 K, only a surface
anchored carboxylate is stable. The anchored NBDA film shows a characteristic
restructuring behavior as a function of coverage. At low coverage
the NBDA, adopts a flat-lying structure in which the norbornadiene
unit interacts with the Co3O4 surface. With
increasing coverage, the norbornadiene units detach from the oxide
and the NBDA adopts an upright-standing orientation. Similar to BA,
the anchored film is stable up to 400 K and decomposes in the temperature
region between 400 and 550 K, leaving behind hydrocarbon residues
on the oxide surface.