Chemisorption-induced changes in the x-ray-absorption fine structure of adsorbed species

Experimental and ab initio theoretical near-edge x-ray-absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) spectra of C2/Ag(110) are presented. The results show that chemisorption can strongly affect the NEXAFS of a molecular species. From examination of the molecular orbitals associated with the resonance structures of gas phase and adsorbed C2 it is further demonstrated that near-edge spectroscopy can be used to gain information about the mechanism of molecule-substrate interaction. © 1991 The American Physical Society.