Vibrational Sum-Frequency Spectroscopic Investigation of the Structure and Azimuthal Anisotropy of Propynyl-Terminated Si(111) Surfaces

Vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy was used to investigate the orientation and azimuthal anisotropy of the C–H stretching modes for propynyl-terminated Si(111) surfaces, Si—C≡C—CH3. VSFG spectra revealed symmetric and asymmetric C–H stretching modes in addition to a Fermi resonance mode resulting from the interaction of the asymmetric C–H bending overtone with the symmetric C–H stretching vibration. The polarization dependence of the C–H stretching modes was consistent with the propynyl groups oriented such that the Si—C≡C– bond is normal to the Si(111) surface. The azimuthal angle dependence of the resonant C–H stretching amplitude revealed no rotational anisotropy for the symmetric C–H stretching mode and a 3-fold rotational anisotropy for the asymmetric C–H stretching mode in registry with the 3-fold symmetric Si(111) substrate. The results are consistent with the expectation that the C–H stretching modes of a −CH3 group are decoupled from the Si substrate due to a −C≡C– spacer. I...