Vibrational spectroscopy of liquid polymer films adsorbed on gold surfaces under UHV

The vibrational properties of liquid perfluorinated polyethers on gold surfaces have been studied by polarization modulated Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy under UHV down to the glass transition at ca. 180 K. The dependence of the IR spectra on temperature and sample thickness yielded information about the mobility and distribution of these very large molecules on flat and lithographically patterned surfaces. The influence of surface morphology on liquid film thickness, surface diffusion, and molecular configurations is discussed. © 1986.