University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Rotationally-resolved scattering of formaldehyde from the Au(111) surface: An axis specific rotational rainbow and its role in trapping probability

Park, Barratt

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2268.pdf
832356.pptx

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/96889

Description

Title
Rotationally-resolved scattering of formaldehyde from the Au(111) surface: An axis specific rotational rainbow and its role in trapping probability
Author(s)
Park, Barratt
Contributor(s)
  • Schaefer, Tim
  • Wodtke, Alec
  • Kandratsenka, Alexander
  • Meyer, Sven
  • Krueger, Bastian C.
Issue Date
2017-06-21
Keyword(s)
Dynamics and kinetics
Date of Ingest
  • 2017-07-27T20:15:10Z
  • 2018-01-29T23:05:29Z
Abstract
The conversion of translational to rotational motion often plays a major role in the trapping of small molecules at surfaces, a crucial first step for a wide variety of chemical processes that occur at gas-surface interfaces. However, to date most quantum-state resolved surface scattering experiments have been performed on diatomic molecules, and very little detailed information is available about how the structure of non-linear polyatomic molecules influences the mechanisms for energy exchange with surfaces. In the current work, we employ a new rotationally-resolved $1+1'$ resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) scheme to measure rotational distribution in formaldehyde molecules directly scattered from the Au(111) surface at incident kinetic energies in the range 0.3--1.2 eV. The results indicate a pronounced propensity to excite $a$-axis rotation (twirling) rather than $b$- or $c$-axis rotation (tumbling or cartwheeling), and are consistent with a rotational rainbow scattering model. Classical trajectory calculations suggest that the effect arises---to zeroth order---from the three-dimensional shape of the molecule (steric effects). The results have broad implications for the enhanced trapping probability of prolate and near-prolate molecules at surfaces.
Publisher
International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
Conference Paper / Presentation
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/96889
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2017.WH07
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2017 Barratt Park

Owning Collections

Abstracts & Presentations - 2017 International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy PRIMARY