Ammonia adsorbed on Cu(110): An angle resolved x- ray spectroscopic and abinitio study

We present a study of a monolayer of ammonia (NH3) adsorbed on Cu(110) usin g core level spectroscopies in combination with ab initio calculations base d on density functional theory. In particular, x-ray emission spectroscopy has been applied, providing an unsurpassed view of the electronic structure of NH3 upon adsorption. The saturated NH3 monolayer, Theta similar to 0.4 ML, is found to induce strong adsorbate-adsorbate interaction, causing the molecules to tilt on the surface. Based on the angular distribution of the x-ray emission (XE) spectra, we have been able to estimate a mean tilt angl e from the surface normal of 40 degrees-45 degrees for the saturated monola yer; the accompanying theoretical calculations for up to three NH3 molecule s on a Cu-21 all-electron cluster model support a tilted structure due to a dsorbate-adsorbate dipole, and possibly hydrogen bonding, interactions. Sin ce the creation of a core hole on the nitrogen atom site in the intermediat e state of the XE process does not affect the symmetry of the molecule, a s eparation of valence electronic states having mainly e symmetry (N 2p(xy)) and a(1) symmetry (N 2p(z)) has been achieved using angle resolved XE measu rements. In addition to the electronic states of free NH3, evidence of new, substrate induced, states has been found, interpreted as ammonia 3a(1)/4a( 1)-Cu 3d valence band hybrids. It is found that back donation into the prev iously unoccupied ammonia 4a(1) orbital, and a simultaneous 3a(1) donation into the substrate plays an important role in the surface chemical bond. (C ) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)70610-0].