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Using the normal incidence x-ray standing wave technique as well as low energy electron microscopy we have investigated the structure of quasi-freestanding monolayer graphene (QFMLG) obtained by intercalation of antimony under the $\left(6\sqrt{3}\times6\sqrt{3}\right)R30^\circ$ reconstructed graphitized 6H-SiC(0001) surface, also known as zeroth-layer graphene. We found that Sb intercalation decouples the QFMLG well from the substrate. The distance from the QFMLG to the Sb layer almost equals the expected van der Waals bonding distance of C and Sb. The Sb intercalation layer itself is mono-atomic, flat, and located much closer to the substrate, at almost the distance of a covalent Sb-Si bond length. All data is consistent with Sb located on top of the uppermost Si atoms of the SiC bulk.

Metal complexes at surfaces and interfaces play an important role in many areas of modern technology, including catalysis, sensors, and organic electronics. An important aspect of these interfaces is the possible exchange of the metal center, because this reaction can drastically alter the properties of the metal complex and thus of the interface. Here, we demonstrate that such metal exchange reactions are indeed possible and can proceed already at moderate temperatures even in the absence of solvents. Specifically, we studied the redox transmetalation of a monolayer of lead(ii)-tetraphenylporphyrin (PbTPP) with copper from a Cu(111) surface under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions using multiple surface-sensitive techniques. Temperature-dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that the Pb/Cu exchange starts already below 380 K and is complete at 600 K. The identity of the reaction product, CuTPP, is confirmed by mass spectrometric detection in a temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) experiment. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) sheds light on the adsorbate structure of PbTPP at 300 K and uncovers the structural changes accompanying the transmetalation and side-reactions of the phenyl substituents. Moreover, individual free Pb atoms are observed as a product of the metal exchange.

Metal complexes at surfaces and interfaces play a prominant role in many areas of modern technology, including catalysis, sensors, and organic electronics. An important aspect of these interfaces is the possible exchange of the metal center, because this reaction can drastically alter the properties of the metal complex and thus of the interface. Here, we demonstrate that such metal exchange reactions are indeed possible and can proceed already at moderate temperatures even in the absence of solvents. Specifically, we studied the redox transmetalation of a monolayer of lead(II)-tetraphenylporphyrin (PbTPP) with copper from a Cu(111) surface under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions using multiple surface-sensitive techniques. Temperature dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that the Pb/Cu exchange starts already below 380 K and is complete at 600 K. The identity of the reaction product, CuTPP, is confirmed by mass spectrometric detection in a temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) experiment. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) sheds light on the adsorbate structure of PbTPP at 300 K and uncovers the structural changes accompanying the transmetalation and side-reactions of the phenyl substituents. Moreover, individual free Pb atoms are observed as a product of the metal exchange. Our study suggests that surfaces functionalized with metal complexes may consist of other species than intended under operation conditions, which often involve elevated temperatures.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the knowledge gap in the field of dark tourism by understanding the phenomena of phoenix tourism, which focuses on the transformation and rebirth of places following death and disasters. Design/methodology/approach The paper builds on existing theoretical understanding of dark tourism and disaster recovery to explore destination image recovery within the tourism industry. It uses phoenix tourism as a lens to understand the social, cultural and economic context of post-disaster tourism destination recovery and rebranding in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. Findings A presentation of post-disaster strategies and recommendations are given with attention to the re-branding of images once associated with death and darkness to enhance a destination’s resilience. Practical Implications For local policymakers, tourism leaders, researchers and community developers, this research describes strategies that facilitate rebranding dark tourism sites, such as areas of rebirth or “phoenix tourism”, to enhance destination recovery image and to promote a more disaster- and risk-resilient tourism industry. Originality/value This paper bridges the knowledge gap by defining and contributing to the theoretical understanding of phoenix tourism as it identifies the what, how and why elements of the phenomena of phoenix tourism. Furthermore, the authors propose how to overcome negative destination images to preserve, present or redefine an image of a tourist destination “overcoming”, and eventual “rebirth” serves to re-calibrate resilience of the tourism industry and regional redevelopment.

Organic/inorganic hybrid interfaces play a prominent role in organic (opto)electronics, heterogeneous catalysis, sensors, and other current fields of technology. The performance of the related devices and processes depends critically on the nature and strength of interfacial interaction. Here, we use the molecular isomers naphthalene (Nt) and azulene (Az) on the Ag(111) and Cu(111) surfaces as model systems that cover different bonding regimes from physisorption to chemisorption. Az also serves as a model for nonalternant molecular electronic materials and for topological 5–7 defects in graphene. The interaction energies are determined from the quantitative analysis of temperature-programmed desorption data. On both surfaces, Az binds more strongly than Nt, with zero-coverage desorption energies (in kJ/mol) of 120 for Az/Ag and 179 for Az/Cu, compared to 103 for Nt/Ag and 114 for Nt/Cu. The integrated experimental energies are compared with adsorption energies from density-functional theory (DFT) calculations, which include van der Waals contributions using four different correction schemes for the PBE functional: (1) the DFT-D3 scheme with Becke–Johnson damping, (2) the vdWsurf correction based on DFT-TS, (3) a many-body dispersion correction scheme, and (4) the D3surf scheme. Differences in the performance of these methods are discussed. Periodic energy decomposition analysis reveals details of the surface chemical bond and confirms that Az/Cu forms a chemisorptive bond, while the other systems are physisorbed. The variation of the adsorbate–substrate interaction with the topology of the π-electron system and the type of surface can be employed to modify the interface properties in graphene-based and organic electronic devices.

A solvent-free dilithium porphyrin was synthesized by direct reaction of free-base meso-tetraphenylporphyrin with elemental lithium in ultra-high vacuum. The reaction product dilithium tetraphenylporphyrin was studied by temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS) and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The solid-state reaction is thermodynamically favored, according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations.