Adsorption Characteristics and Structure of 4,4′-Bis(mercaptomethyl)biphenyl on Silver by Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering and Density Functional Theory Calculations

Adsorption of 4,4'-bis(mercaptomethyl)biphenyl (44BMBP) on silver nanoparticles has been investigated by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. In addition, the Raman spectra of 44BMBP in solid state and in basic condition have been obtained for comparative study to elicit the characteristics of adsorption. The observed Raman and SERS spectra were analyzed comparing with the normal modes and vibrational frequencies from density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed for the feasible structures of 44BMBP molecule. On the basis of excellent agreement between the calculated and the experimental results, the molecule is found to have both the cis- and trans-forms for the mercaptomethyl groups in the solid state as well as in the basic condition. In contrast, the molecule is found to be chemisorbed on the silver surface by forming two Ag-S linkages only in the cis-form but not in the trans-form due to the steric interruption, which indicates the parallel orientation of molecules on the surface. Particularly, the spectral features in the SERS spectra such as the absence of the C-H stretching band and enhancement for the out-of-plane skeletal modes are confirmatory for the parallel geometry through it interaction between the phenyl rings and the metal surface, based on the electromagnetic surface selection rule.