Adsorbate geometry distinction in arenethiols by ion/surface reactive collisions

Ion/surface reactive collisions and charge exchange leading to chemical sputtering are sensitive to chemisorbate structure of aromatic compounds. The differences in adsorption geometry were investigated using self-assembled monolayers of 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol adsorbed in gold and silver thin films as target surfaces. Results suggested that the difference in adsorbate geometry is due to the presence of aromatic C-H and S-H chains and an S-C-H bend from the gold monolayer and the absences of these in the silver monolayer.