Adsorption of individual C60 molecules on Si(111)

Structural and electronic properties of C60 fullerene network self-assembled on metal-covered semiconductor surfaces

Using first-principles density functional theory calculations, we made an accurate structural characterization of the C₆₀ superstructures self-assembled on the Tl-adsorbed Si(111) and Ge(111) surfaces, which finds a good agreement with the recent scanning tunneling microscopy observations. Our band structure calculations revealed the semi-metallic character of the C₆₀/Tl/Si(111) system, while the C₆₀/Tl/Ge(111) system was found to show up the pronounced metallic character due to the cascade of the flat bands lying in the vicinity of the Fermi level. The latter is a fingerprint for strong correlation effects in the C₆₀/Tl/Ge(111) system, which makes it a promising object for studying electrical transport phenomena and opens the prospects for its application in the molecular-based electronic devices. We elucidated the details of the molecule-substrate and intermolecular interactions and discussed the character of a charge transfer in both systems.

Vacancy patterning and patterning vacancies: controlled self-assembly of fullerenes on metal surfaces

A density functional theory study accounting for van der Waals interactions reveals the potential of metal surface vacancies as anchor points for the construction of user-defined 2D patterns of adsorbate molecules via a controlled self-assembly process. Vice versa, energetic criteria indicate the formation of regular adsorbate-induced vacancies after adsorbate self-assembly on clean surfaces. These processes are exemplified by adsorbing C₆₀ fullerene on Al(111), Au(111), and Be(0001) surfaces with and without single, triple, and septuple atom pits. An analysis of vacancy-adatom formation energetics precedes the study of the adsorption processes.

Selective adsorption of C60 on Ge/Si nanostructures

Selective adsorption of C60 on nanoscale Ge areas can be achieved, while neighboring Si(111) areas remain uncovered, if the whole surface is initially terminated by Bi. Fullerene chemisorption is found at Bi vacancies which form due to partial thermal desorption of the Bi surfactant. The growth rate and temperature dependence of the C60 adsorption were measured using scanning tunneling microscopy and are described consistently by a rate equation model. The selectivity of the C60 adsorption can be traced back to an easier vacancy formation in the Bi layer on top of the Ge areas compared to the Si areas. Furthermore, it is also possible to desorb C60 from Ge areas, allowing the use of C60 as a resist on the nanoscale.

Formation of One-Dimensional C60 Rows on TiO2(110)-1 × 2-cross-link Structure and Their Local Polymerization

Adsorption and growth of a C(60) monolayer on a TiO(2)(110)-1 x 2-cross-link structure were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Single C(60) molecules were preferentially anchored at the cross-link site due to interaction with undercoordinated Ti cations, and C(60) rows grew along the troughs between the 1 x 2-added rows. The C(60) monolayer structure is characterized by closely packed (r(C(60)-C(60)) = 1.0 nm) C(60) rows that are paired with every second added row (separation of paired rows is 1.1 nm). By applying a high negative bias voltage (-3.5 V) to an STM tip on the C(60) monolayer, C(60) oligomers were formed accompanied with the contraction of C(60)-C(60) distance along the C(60) row and bright contrast in the STM image.

Pyrazolino[60]fullerene-Oligophenylenevinylene Dumbbell-Shaped Arrays: Synthesis, Electrochemistry, Photophysics, and Self-Assembly on Surfaces

Symmetrically substituted oligophenylenevinylene (OPV) derivatives bearing terminal p-nitrophenylhydrazone groups have been prepared and used for the synthesis of dumbbell-shaped bis(pyrazolino[60]fullerene)-OPV systems. In these triad arrays, the OPV-type fluorescence is dramatically quenched as a consequence of ultrafast OPV-->C60 singlet energy transfer. In its turn the fullerene singlet state is quenched by pyrazoline-->C60 electron transfer, in line with the behavior of the corresponding reference fullerene molecule. The occurrence of electron transfer in the multicomponent arrays is evidenced by recovery of fullerene fluorescence at 77 K in CH2Cl2 and in toluene at 298 K. Under these conditions the OPV-->C60 energy transfer is unaffected. The rate of this process turns out to be higher for the OPV trimer than for the corresponding pentameric OPV arrays, in agreement with energy-transfer theory expectations. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning force microscopy (SFM) revealed that the bis(pyrazolino[60]fullerene)-OPV can self-assemble into ordered layered crystalline architectures on the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolitic graphite.