Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopic study of the silane coupling agents: 1—Aminophenyltrimethoxysilane adsorbed on plasma grown aluminum oxide and effects of high humidity

Abstract

Abstract The adsorption mechanism of aminophenyltrimethoxysilane adsorbed from the vapor on plasma grown aluminum oxide and effects of high humidity on the adsorbed silane were studied by inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS). The IETS spectrum of aminophenyltrimethoxysilane contains the bands due to phenyl rings, methyl groups and amino groups. The NH 2 deformation mode is shifted to lower frequencies, which may imply that the silane is chemisorbed through the amino group. By exposing the sample to water vapor, the methoxy group hydrolizes and the resultant methanol is removed from the varrier region indicated by a significant loss of intensity of the CH 3 stretching and deformation modes. A loss of intensity of the NH 2 deformation mode was also observed after the exposure.