Rotational and state-resolved translational distributions of NO scattered from organized amphiphilic monolayers

Two-photon ionization has been used to probe NO scattered from two different long chain organic amphiphiles. Rotational and state-resolved translational distributions were obtained. The results show that there is a large difference in the dynamics of scattering from an unsubstituted aliphatic chain as compared to a monolayer in which the exposed end has been perfluorinated. NO scattered from the latter is more energetic both rotationally, and translationally. This effect becomes particularly noticeable as the incident energy of the NO is raised. The results can be explained by a mechanism which ignores the weak NO--surface potential and treats only the differences in rigidity and phonon modes in the two monolayers