Preferential formation of Si-O-C over Si-C linkage upon thermal grafting on hydrogen-terminated silicon (111)

In a stringent and near oxygen-free environment, Si-H surfaces were introduced to a trifluoroalkyne, an alcohol-derivatized alkyne, as well as an equal mixture of both alkynes at a temperature of 130°C. Contact angle measurements, high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and angle-resolved XPS were performed to examine the system. Si-H surfaces were found to have a strong preference towards the formation of Si-O-C rather than Si-C bonds when the alcohol and alkyne reactivities were compared.