Fluorinated and Hydrogenated Ethers Adsorbed at Metal Surfaces: A Surface Science Tribology Study

Abstract
Fluorinated and hydrogenated ethers adsorbed at a metal surface are studied using surface science techniques. It is found that fluorinated ethers bond less strongly to both atomically rough and smooth ruthenium surfaces than hydrogenated analogs. The magnitude of the fluorinated ether-surface bond is further decreased if water is preadsorbed on the surface. For the hydrogenated ethers, 0.03 to 0.17 monolayer undergo decomposition, while fluorinated ethers do not decompose significantly.