DETERMINATION OF THE ORIENTATION OF METHOXY ON CU(111) USING X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON DIFFRACTION

The orientation of methoxy (CH3O-) on copper single-crystal surfaces, has been the subject of some controversy. Here we show, using the particularly direct technique of X-ray photoelectron diffraction, that on Cu(111) methoxy is clearly adsorbed with its O-C molecular axis perpendicular to the surface. This agrees with the results of vibrational and electronic spectroscopies, and of scanned energy mode photoelectron diffraction.