Sum-frequency spectroscopy of a monolayer of zinc arachidate at the solid-solid interface

Infrared-visible sum-frequency spectroscopy has been used to record the vibrational spectrum of a zinc arachidate monolayer at the interface between a sapphire prism and a fused silica lens. Spectra have been recorded for the monolayer deposited on the prism before, during, and after contact, and as a function of increasing pressure. Sum-frequency spectra are reported of the monolayer under sliding contact. The monolayer is found to be resistant to pressure- and shear-induced conformational disorder. However, frequency shifts, drops in peak intensities, and changes in peak intensity ratios have been observed as the monolayer is placed in contact between the prism and the lens. Transfer of monolayer material between the two surfaces is observed and is confirmed by spectra obtained with a monolayer deposited on the surface of the lens rather than the prism. On one face of the sapphire prism, the monolayer reconstructs to a low symmetry layer, probably due to epitaxy. The epitaxial structure disappeared in contact. Existing models for calculating sum-frequency spectra have been extended to include unit cells containing two molecules and torsion about the terminal C-C bond. This model can explain some, but not all, of the experimental observations.