Detection of C-Si covalent bond in CH₃ adsorbate formed by chemical reaction of CH₃MgBr and H:Si(111)

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) yielded evidence for the formation of single covalent bonds between Si(111) surface atoms and CH₃ groups from the reaction of CH₃MgBr and hydrogen-terminated H:Si(111)(1 × 1). The vibration at 678 cm^-1, assigned to the C-Si bond, was isolated within the spectrum of CH₃ on deuterium-terminated D:Si(111)(1 × 1). The CH₃ groups were thermally stable at temperatures below 600 K. The C-Si bonds are essential for enhancing the usefulness of alkyl moieties, which will lead to a new prospective technology of nanoscale fabrication and biochemical application.