Molecules coining patterns into a metal: the hard core of soft matter

  • chair:

    Witte, G. / Hänel, K. / Busse, C. / Birkner, A. / Wöll, Ch. (2007)
  • place: Chem. Mater. 19 (2007), 4228-4233

  • Date: 2007

  • Witte, G. / Hänel, K. / Busse, C. / Birkner, A. / Wöll, Ch. (2007): "Molecules coining patterns into a metal: the hard core of soft matter". In: Chem. Mater. 19 (2007), 4228-4233

Abstract

Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we demonstrate that deposition of a monolayer of perylene (C20H12), a planar aromatic molecule, on a Cu(110) substrate leads to the formation of a periodic pattern of nanostripes. High-resolution STM data indicate that the driving force for this unexpected surface restructuring caused by such nonreactive hydrocarbons is a lock-in mechanism due to a close registry of the molecular carbon frame with respect to the underlying copper lattice which leads to an enhanced adsorption energy.


 

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