Mechanisms of covalent dimerization on a bulk insulating surface

Combining density functional theory and high resolution NC-AFM experiments, we have studied the on surface reaction mechanisms' responsible for the covalent dimerization of 4-iodobenzoic acid (IBA) organic molecules on the calcite (10.4), insulating surface. When annealed at 580 K, the Molecules assemble in one-dimensional chains of covalently bound dimers: The chains have a unique orientation and result from a complex set of processes, including a nominally rather. costly double dehalogenation reaction followed by dimerization. First, focusing on the latter two processes and using the nudged elastic band method, we analyze a number of possible mechanisms involving one and two molecules, an…