We have investigated the thermally-induced and electron-impact-induced chemistry of CF3I on Ni(100) following adsorption at 100 K. The data support a model for the thermally-induced chemistry, in which CF3I dissociates to CF3 and I, either upon adsorption or at slightly-elevated temperatures. Most CF3 decomposes to adsorbed C and F. Above 75% saturation of the first layer, the availability of surface sites for decomposition decreases to a level where some adsorbed CF3 remains intact and desorbs as such. Bombardment of multilayer CF3I by lowenergy electrons introduces new chemistry. Electron-induced decomposition (EID) of the parent molecule occurs through both C-I and C-F bond scission, with a measured cross section of 1.5 X 10-16 cm2 (upper limit). Thermally-induced desorption from the electron-bombarded surface indicates a number of EID fragment reactions, most notably carbon - carbon bond formation, as evidenced by C2F3I+, C2F4 +, C2F5 +, C3F5 +, and C4F7 +. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C-C bond formation in small fluorocarbons adsorbed on metal surfaces.
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Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Journal of the American Chemical Society 117 (1995): 438, doi: 10.1021/ja00106a050. Copyright 1995 American Chemical Society.