The effect of the structure of ice on the aggregation state of co-adsorbed formic acid

In the present work we have investigated the effect of the structure of ice on the adsorption of formic acid on its surface. Single crystal silicon wafers (100) coated by organized organic thin films (OOTFs) were used as the substrate on top of which ice was deposited. The amount of water required to fully cover the surface was determined by measuring the reactivity of the OOTF with O( 3P) atomic beam as a function of ice coverage. It was found that the structure of vapor deposited formic acid is affected by the phase of the underlying ice and that the phase transition in the ice affects the infrared absorption spectrum of the formic acid.