Self-assembly of trimetallic nitride template fullerenes on surfaces studied by STM

• Published in: Surface science 2007-07, Vol.601 (13), p.2750-2755
• Main Authors: Leigh, D.F., Nörenberg, C., Cattaneo, D., Owen, J.H.G., Porfyrakis, K., Li Bassi, A., Ardavan, A., Briggs, G.A.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Endohedral metallofullerenes; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes; In situ characterization; Physics; Scanning tunnelling microscopy; Self-assembly; Surface diffusion
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2006.12.035

Trimetallic nitride template fullerenes have been deposited onto a variety of substrates in order to elucidate the substrate–fullerene interactions. We have investigated self-assembled island formation and molecular detail of Er 3N@C 80 and Sc 3N@C 80 on Ag/Si(1 1 1), Au(1 1 1)/mica, Si(1 1 1), and Si(0 0 1) using variable temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). At room temperature, the fullerenes self-assemble into monolayer-high hexagonal close-packed islands on Ag-passivated Si(1 1 1) whereas annealing at elevated temperatures (250–300 °C) is necessary for the self-assembly of close-packed islands on Au(1 1 1). Intra-molecular resolution of the fullerenes has been achieved at liquid nitrogen temperature on Ag/Si(1 1 1) and already at room temperature on Si(0 0 1), when the rotation of the fullerenes is frozen. Whereas the bonding between the fullerenes and Si surfaces is mainly covalent, it appears to be mainly van-der-Waals on the other surfaces.