Abstract

Reactions of the (100) surfaces of Ge and Si with organic molecules have been generally understood within the concept of "dimers" formed by the 2 x 1 surface reconstruction. In this work, the adsorption of tent-butyl isocyanide on the Ge(100)-2 x 1 surface at large exposures is investigated under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. A combination of infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption experiments along with dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations is used to determine the surface products. Upon adsorption of a dense monolayer of tert-butyl isocyanide, a product whose structure resembles a germa-ketenimine (N=C=Ge) with sigma donation toward and pi back-donation from the Ge(100) surface appears. Formation of this structure involves divalent-type surface Ge atoms that arise from cleavage of the Ge(100)-2 x 1 surface dimers: Our results reveal an unprecedented class of reactions of organic molecules at the Ge(100) surface.