Transmission infrared spectroscopy of methyl- and ethyl-terminated silicon(111) surfaces

Transmission infrared spectroscopy (TIRS) has been used to investigate the surface-bound species formed in the two-step chlorination/alkylation reaction of crystalline (111)-oriented Si surfaces. Spectra were obtained after hydrogen termination, chlorine termination, and reaction of the Cl-Si(111) surface with CH3MgX or C2H5MgX (X = Cl, Br) to form methyl (CH3)- or ethyl (C2H5)-terminated Si(111) surfaces, respectively. Freshly etched H-terminated Si(111) surfaces that were subsequently chlorinated by immersion in a saturated solution of PCl5 in chlorobenzene were characterized by complete loss of the Si-H stretching and bending modes at 2083 and 627 cm(-1), respectively, and the appearance of Si-Cl modes at 583 and 528 cm(-1). TIRS of the CH3-terminated Si(111) surface exhibited a peak at 1257 cm(-1) polarized perpendicular to the surface assigned to the C-H symmetrical bending, or umbrella motion, of the methyl group. A peak observed at 757 cm(-1) polarized parallel to the surface was assigned to the C-H rocking motion. Alkyl C-H stretch modes on both the CH3- and C2H5-terminated surfaces were observed near 2900 cm(-1). The C2H5-terminated Si(111) surface additionally exhibited broad bands at 2068 and 2080 cm(-1), respectively, polarized perpendicular to the surface, as well as peaks at 620 and 627 cm(-1), respectively, polarized parallel to the surface. These modes were assigned to the Si-H stretching and bending motions, respectively, resulting from H-termination of surface atoms that did not form Si-C bonds during the ethylation reaction.