Adsorption of Aldehydes on a Graphite Substrate: Combined Thermodynamic Study of C6-C13 Homologues with a Structural and Dynamical Study of Dodecanal

In this work we present a study on the adsorption of linear alkyl aldehydes physisorbed from their bulk liquid onto a graphite substrate combining calorimetry for all homologues from C6 to C13, with more detailed diffraction, incoherent neutron scattering, and scanning tunneling microscopy techniques for one (C12) representative member. We identify solid monolayer formation for some of these species for alkyl chain lengths of 6 to 13 carbons at high surface coverages. The C12 monolayer structure is determined to be most likely Pgg and this structure is discussed in terms of the importance of dipolar interactions.