Surface Chemistry of Perfluoropolyethers and Hydrogenated Analogs: Are Studies of Model Compounds Useful?

We have studied adsorption, desorption, and decomposition of ethers on Ru(001), an atomically-smooth metal surface. We have compared diethers with monoethers, and fluorinated ethers with hydrogenated ethers. The number of ether linkages does not strongly influence adsorption bond strength, nor the extent of decomposition. Fluorination does weaken the adsorption bond strength and prevents decomposition. These studies suggest that the surface properties of monomeric ethers can be used to predict properties of oligomeric, and perhaps even polymeric, ethers