Growth of unidirectional molecular rows of cysteine on Au(110)-(1 × 2) driven by adsorbate-induced surface rearrangements

Using scanning tunneling microscopy we have studied the nucleation and growth of unidirectional molecular rows upon adsorption of the amino acid cysteine onto the anisotropic Au(110)-(1 x 2) surface under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. By modeling a large variety of possible molecular adsorption geome...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2004-08, Vol.93 (8), p.086101.1-086101.4
Main Authors: KÜHNLE, A, MOLINA, L. M, LINDEROTH, T. R, HAMMER, B, BESENBACHER, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces
Surface structure and topography
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
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Summary:Using scanning tunneling microscopy we have studied the nucleation and growth of unidirectional molecular rows upon adsorption of the amino acid cysteine onto the anisotropic Au(110)-(1 x 2) surface under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. By modeling a large variety of possible molecular adsorption geometries using density-functional theory calculations, we find that in the optimum, lowest energy configuration, no significant intermolecular interactions exist along the growth direction. Instead the driving force for formation of the unidirectional molecular rows is an adsorbate-induced surface rearrangement, providing favorable adsorption sites for the molecules.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.086101