Surface chemistry of alanine on Cu{111}: Adsorption geometry and temperature dependence

Adsorption of l-alanine on the Cu{111} single crystal surface was investigated as a model system for interactions between small chiral modifier molecules and close-packed metal surfaces. Synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy are used to determine the chemical state, bond coordination and out-of-plane orientation of the molecule on the surface. Alanine adsorbs in its anionic form at room temperature, whilst at low temperature the overlayer consists of anionic and zwitterionic molecules. NEXAFS spectra exhibit a strong angular dependence of the π⁎ resonance associated with the carboxylate group, which allows determining the tilt angle of this group with respect to the surface plane (48°±2°) at room temperature. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) shows a p213×213R13° superstructure with only one domain, which breaks the mirror symmetry of the substrate and, thus, induces global chirality to the surface. Temperature-programmed XPS (TP-XPS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments indicate that the zwitterionic form converts into the anionic species (alaninate) at 293K. The latter desorbs/decomposes between 435K and 445K. •Alanine adsorbs in its anionic form at room temperature.•At low temperature the overlayer consists of anionic and zwitterionic molecules.•The zwitterionic form converts into anionic species (alaninate) at 293 K.•The tilt angle of the carboxyl group with respect to the surface plane (48◦±2°)•p213×213R13°LEED pattern with only one domain indicates global chirality.