ON THE ORIENTATION OF BENZENE ADSORBED ON CU(110)

The orientation of benzene on Cu{110} has been determined at low and h igh coverages by angle-resolved photoemission and high resolution elec tron energy loss spectroscopy. The results clearly indicate that the m olecular plane is substantially tilted with respect to the metal surfa ce at all coverages, in disagreement with an earlier NEXAFS investigat ion. These findings are discussed in the light of the previously repor ted reaction kinetics of acetylene trimerisation over Cu{110} and comp arison is drawn with the same reaction over Pd(111).