Determination of the molecular symmetry of acetylene on Ni(001) by electron-impact scattering

Abstract
Angle-dependent electron-energy-loss measurements of acetylene on Ni(001) are used to deduce molecular symmetry on the surface by consideration of selection rules for vibrational excitation by impact scattering. Chemisorbed acetylene has Cs symmetry with a mirror plane along 110 and a molecular plane tilted relative to the surface.