The deposition of osmium carbonyl clusters onto inorganic oxide surfaces: a ToF-SIMS and IR spectroscopic study of the surface species.

The interaction between the osmium clusters [Os3(CO)12], [Os3(CO)10(mu-H)2], [Os3(CO)10(mu-H)(mu-OH)], and a series containing a free functional group, viz., [Os3(CO)10(mu-H)(mu-S--EH)] (where -- =alkylwedge chain or an aromatic ring, E=COO, S or O), with SiO2, ZnO and In2O3, was examined by ToF-SIMS and IR spectroscopy. While the interaction with the silica surface is mostly via an O atom or the functional group, the interaction with the ZnO and In2O3 surfaces is more complex.