Formation of dispersive hybrid bands at an organic-metal interface

Synthesis and Characterization of a Non-Planar Cyclophenylene on Au(111)

We report the surface-assisted synthesis of a non-planar cyclophenylene derivative containing four meta- and two para- connected phenylene moieties on Au(111), via hierarchical Ullmann coupling of a 1,10-dibrominated angular [3] phenylene and subsequent C-C bond cleavage at the four-membered rings. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) were used for the characterization of its chemical structure and electronic properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the experimental observations.

On-surface synthesis of porous graphene nanoribbons mediated by phenyl migration

Advancements in the on-surface synthesis of atomically precise graphene nanostructures are propelled by the introduction of innovative precursor designs and reaction types. Until now, the latter has been confined to cross-coupling and cyclization reactions that involve the cleavage of specific atoms or groups. In this article, we elucidate how the migration of phenyl substituents attached to graphene nanoribbons can be harnessed to generate arrays of [18]-annulene pores at the edges of the nanostructures. This sequential pathway is revealed through a comprehensive study employing bond-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy and ab-initio computational techniques. The yield of pore formation is maximized by anchoring the graphene nanoribbons at steps of vicinal surfaces, underscoring the potential of these substrates to guide reaction paths. Our study introduces a new reaction to the on-surface synthesis toolbox along with a sequential route, altogether enabling the extension of this strategy towards the formation of other porous nanostructures.

Investigation into electronic interaction and work function tuning of phthalocyanine molecules and graphene interfaces

Understanding the interfacial electronic structures of organic semiconductor phthalocyanines (MePc) and graphene is essential for their practical application in various fields. In this study, we investigated the electronic structure and the tuning of the work function of free metal phthalocyanine (Pc4), cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) molecules deposited on a graphene monolayer using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). We found that the functionalization of MePc molecules induces p-doping to the graphene substrate due to the charge transfer mechanism with the MePc molecule. XPS analysis shows that the electronic interaction at the interface between Pc molecules and graphene substrate mainly occurs through the pyrrole species. Comparatively, it was observed that the electronic coupling between graphene and CuPc is relatively stronger than that between CoPc and graphene. The electronic interaction of the CuPc/Gr sample principally occurs through the Cu2+ 3d states of CuPc, the molecule, and the graphene 2p π states. This electronic interaction increases the work function of the graphene substrate to 5.75 eV, 6.05 eV, and 6.12 eV after depositing the Pc4, CoPc, and CuPc molecules, respectively. These results show that the MePc/Gr samples investigated in this study can be considered promising candidates for applications requiring a high work function to increase hole injection efficiency.

Probing charge redistribution at the interface of self-assembled cyclo-P5 pentamers on Ag(111)

Phosphorus pentamers (cyclo-P5) are unstable in nature but can be synthesized at the Ag(111) surface. Unlike monolayer black phosphorous, little is known about their electronic properties when in contact with metal electrodes, although this is crucial for future applications. Here, we characterize the atomic structure of cyclo-P5 assembled on Ag(111) using atomic force microscopy with functionalized tips and density functional theory. Combining force and tunneling spectroscopy, we find that a strong charge transfer induces an inward dipole moment at the cyclo-P5/Ag interface as well as the formation of an interface state. We probe the image potential states by field-effect resonant tunneling and quantify the increase of the local change of work function of 0.46 eV at the cyclo-P5 assembly. Our experimental approach suggest that the cyclo-P5/Ag interface has the characteristic ingredients of a p-type semiconductor-metal Schottky junction with potential applications in field-effect transistors, diodes, or solar cells.

Donor-Acceptor Co-Adsorption Ratio Controls the Structure and Electronic Properties of Two-Dimensional Alkali-Organic Networks on Ag(100)

The results are presented of a detailed combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the influence of coadsorbed electron-donating alkali atoms and the prototypical electron acceptor molecule 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) on the Ag(100) surface. Several coadsorption phases were characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Quantitative structural data were obtained using normal-incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) measurements and compared with the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations using several different methods of dispersion correction. Generally, good agreement between theory and experiment was achieved for the quantitative structures, albeit with the prediction of the alkali atom heights being challenging for some methods. The adsorption structures depend sensitively on the interplay of molecule-metal charge transfer and long-range dispersion forces, which are controlled by the composition ratio between alkali atoms and TCNQ. The large difference in atomic size between K and Cs has negligible effects on stability, whereas increasing the ratio of K/TCNQ from 1:4 to 1:1 leads to a weakening of molecule-metal interaction strength in favor of stronger ionic bonds within the two-dimensional alkali-organic network. A strong dependence of the work function on the alkali donor-TCNQ acceptor coadsorption ratio is predicted.

Electronic Characterization of a Charge-Transfer Complex Monolayer on Graphene

Organic charge-transfer complexes (CTCs) formed by strong electron acceptor and strong electron donor molecules are known to exhibit exotic effects such as superconductivity and charge density waves. We present a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (LT-STM/STS) study of a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer CTC of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and fluorinated tetracyanoquinodimethane (F₄TCNQ), self-assembled on the surface of oxygen-intercalated epitaxial graphene on Ir(111) (G/O/Ir(111)). We confirm the formation of the charge-transfer complex by dI/dV spectroscopy and direct imaging of the singly occupied molecular orbitals. High-resolution spectroscopy reveals a gap at zero bias, suggesting the formation of a correlated ground state at low temperatures. These results point to the possibility to realize and study correlated ground states in charge-transfer complex monolayers on weakly interacting surfaces.

Band Formation at Interfaces Between N-Heteropolycycles and Gold Electrodes

Efficient charge injection at organic semiconductor/metal interfaces is crucial for the performance of organic field effect transistors. Interfacial hybrid band formation between electronic states of the organic compound and the metal electrode facilitates effective charge injection. Here, we show that a long-range ordered monolayer of a flat-lying N-heteropolycyclic aromatic compound on Au(111) leads to dispersing occupied and unoccupied interfacial hybrid bands. Using angle-resolved two-photon photoemission we determine their energy level alignment and dispersion relations. We suggest that band formation proceeds via hybridization of a localized occupied molecular state with the d-bands of the Au substrate, where the large effective mass of the d-bands is significantly reduced in the hybrid band. Hybridization of an unoccupied molecular state with the Au sp-band leads to a band with an even smaller effective mass.

Magnetism of Topological Boundary States Induced by Boron Substitution in Graphene Nanoribbons

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), low-dimensional platforms for carbon-based electronics, show the promising perspective to also incorporate spin polarization in their conjugated electron system. However, magnetism in GNRs is generally associated with localized states around zigzag edges, difficult to fabricate and with high reactivity. Here we demonstrate that magnetism can also be induced away from physical GNR zigzag edges through atomically precise engineering topological defects in its interior. A pair of substitutional boron atoms inserted in the carbon backbone breaks the conjugation of their topological bands and builds two spin-polarized boundary states around them. The spin state was detected in electrical transport measurements through boron-substituted GNRs suspended between the tip and the sample of a scanning tunneling microscope. First-principle simulations find that boron pairs induce a spin 1, which is modified by tuning the spacing between pairs. Our results demonstrate a route to embed spin chains in GNRs, turning them into basic elements of spintronic devices.

Stabilizing Edge Fluorination in Graphene Nanoribbons

The on-surface synthesis of edge-functionalized graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) is challenged by the stability of the functional groups throughout the thermal reaction steps of the synthetic pathway. Edge fluorination is a particularly critical case in which the interaction with the catalytic substrate and intermediate products can induce the complete cleavage of the otherwise strong C-F bonds before the formation of the GNR. Here, we demonstrate how a rational design of the precursor can stabilize the functional group, enabling the synthesis of edge-fluorinated GNRs. The survival of the functionalization is demonstrated by tracking the structural and chemical transformations occurring at each reaction step with complementary X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. In contrast to previous attempts, we find that the C-F bond survives the cyclodehydrogenation of the intermediate polymers, leaving a thermal window where GNRs withhold more than 80% of the fluorine atoms. We attribute this enhanced stability of the C-F bond to the particular structure of our precursor, which prevents the cleavage of the C-F bond by avoiding interaction with the residual hydrogen originated in the cyclodehydrogenation. This structural protection of the linking bond could be implemented in the synthesis of other sp²-functionalized GNRs.

Probing the Magnetism of Topological End States in 5-Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons

We extensively characterize the electronic structure of ultranarrow graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with armchair edges and zigzag termini that have five carbon atoms across their width (5-AGNRs), as synthesized on Au(111). Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements on the ribbons, recorded on both the metallic substrate and a decoupling NaCl layer, show well-defined dispersive bands and in-gap states. In combination with theoretical calculations, we show how these in-gap states are topological in nature and localized at the zigzag termini of the nanoribbons. In addition to rationalizing the driving force behind the topological class selection of 5-AGNRs, we also uncover the length-dependent behavior of these end states which transition from singly occupied spin-split states to a closed-shell form as the ribbons become shorter. Finally, we demonstrate the magnetic character of the end states via transport experiments in a model two-terminal device structure in which the ribbons are suspended between the scanning probe and the substrate that both act as leads.

Interfacial charge transfer enhancement via formation of binary molecular assemblies on electronically corrugated boron nitride

Using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) in conjunction with finite element simulation, we investigate the interfacial behaviors in single-component zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and hexadecafluorinated zinc phthalocyanine (F16ZnPc) molecular overlayers as well as their 1 : 1 mixed-phase superstructures on h-BN/Cu(111). We show that the formation of the binary molecular superstructure drastically increases the charge transfer between F16ZnPc molecules and the substrate, which is attributed to the greater electrostatic stability of the binary assembly compared to that of the pure phase. This study highlights the significant complication in the design of donor-acceptor molecular thin films as the presence of the substrate, even a weakly interacting one, such as h-BN/metal, can still perturb the intermolecular charge transfer and thereby the physical behaviors of the hybrid system via interfacial processes.

Coexisting Charge States in a Unary Organic Monolayer Film on a Metal

The electronic and geometric structures of tetracene films on Ag(110) and Cu(110) have been studied with photoemission tomography and compared to that of pentacene. Despite similar energy level alignment of the two oligoacenes on these surfaces revealed by conventional ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, the momentum-space resolved photoemission tomography reveals a significant difference in both structural and electronic properties of tetracene and pentacene films. Particularly, the saturated monolayer of tetracene on Ag(110) is found to consist of two molecular species that, despite having the same orientation, are electronically very different-while one molecule remains neutral, another is charged because of electron donation from the substrate.

Triphenylene-Derived Electron Acceptors and Donors on Ag(111): Formation of Intermolecular Charge-Transfer Complexes with Common Unoccupied Molecular States

Over the past years, ultrathin films consisting of electron donating and accepting molecules have attracted increasing attention due to their potential usage in optoelectronic devices. Key parameters for understanding and tuning their performance are intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions. Here, the formation of a monolayer thick blend of triphenylene-based organic donor and acceptor molecules from 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexamethoxytriphenylene (HAT) and 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile (HATCN), respectively, on a silver (111) surface is reported. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, valence and core level photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as low-energy electron diffraction measurements are used, complemented by density functional theory calculations, to investigate both the electronic and structural properties of the homomolecular as well as the intermixed layers. The donor molecules are weakly interacting with the Ag(111) surface, while the acceptor molecules show a strong interaction with the substrate leading to charge transfer and substantial buckling of the top silver layer and of the adsorbates. Upon mixing acceptor and donor molecules, strong hybridization occurs between the two different molecules leading to the emergence of a common unoccupied molecular orbital located at both the donor and acceptor molecules. The donor acceptor blend studied here is, therefore, a compelling candidate for organic electronics based on self-assembled charge-transfer complexes.

Realizing nearly-free-electron like conduction band in a molecular film through mediating intermolecular van der Waals interactions

Collective molecular physical properties can be enhanced from their intrinsic characteristics by templating at material interfaces. Here we report how a black phosphorous (BP) substrate concatenates a nearly-free-electron (NFE) like conduction band of a C60 monolayer. Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals the C60 lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) band is strongly delocalized in two-dimensions, which is unprecedented for a molecular semiconductor. Experiment and theory show van der Waals forces between C60 and BP reduce the inter-C60 distance and cause mutual orientation, thereby optimizing the π-π wave function overlap and forming the NFE-like band. Electronic structure and carrier mobility calculations predict that the NFE band of C60 acquires an effective mass of 0.53-0.70 me (me is the mass of free electrons), and has carrier mobility of ~200 to 440 cm2V-1s-1. The substrate-mediated intermolecular van der Waals interactions provide a route to enhance charge delocalization in fullerenes and other organic semiconductors.

Pure and mixed ordered monolayers of tetracyano-2,6-naphthoquinodimethane and hexathiapentacene on the Ag(100) surface

We report on mixed ordered monolayers of the electron acceptor-type molecule tetracyano-2,6-naphthoquinodimethane (TNAP) and the electron donor-type molecule hexathiapentacene (HTPEN). This investigation was motivated by the general question which type of mixed stoichiometric structures are formed on a surface by molecules that are otherwise typically used for the synthesis of bulk charge-transfer materials. The layers were obtained by vacuum deposition on the Ag(100) surface and analyzed by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The formation of the mixed structure occurs spontaneously. An important motif for the structure formation is given by hydrogen bonds between the TNAP molecules. Both molecules, TNAP and HTPEN also form well-ordered monolayers on the Ag(100) surface on their own. In all structures, the molecules are adsorbed in a planar orientation on the surface. We discuss the influence of intermolecular charge transfer on the ordering in the mixed structure.

Halogen-Adatom Mediated Phase Transition of Two-Dimensional Molecular Self-Assembly on a Metal Surface

Construction of tunable and robust two-dimensional (2D) molecular arrays with desirable lattices and functionalities over a macroscopic scale relies on spontaneous and reversible noncovalent interactions between suitable molecules as building blocks. Halogen bonding, with active tunability of direction, strength, and length, is ideal for tailoring supramolecular structures. Herein, by combining low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and systematic first-principles calculations, we demonstrate novel halogen bonding involving single halogen atoms and phase engineering in 2D molecular self-assembly. On the Au(111) surface, we observed catalyzed dehalogenation of hexabromobenzene (HBB) molecules, during which negatively charged bromine adatoms (Br^δ-) were generated and participated in assembly via unique C-Br^δ+···Br^δ- interaction, drastically different from HBB assembly on a chemically inert graphene substrate. We successfully mapped out different phases of the assembled superstructure, including densely packed hexagonal, tetragonal, dimer chain, and expanded hexagonal lattices at room temperature, 60 °C, 90 °C, and 110 °C, respectively, and the critical role of Br^δ- in regulating lattice characteristics was highlighted. Our results show promise for manipulating the interplay between noncovalent interactions and catalytic reactions for future development of molecular nanoelectronics and 2D crystal engineering.

Width-Dependent Band Gap in Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons Reveals Fermi Level Pinning on Au(111)

We report the energy level alignment evolution of valence and conduction bands of armchair-oriented graphene nanoribbons (aGNR) as their band gap shrinks with increasing width. We use 4,4″-dibromo-para-terphenyl as the molecular precursor on Au(111) to form extended poly-para-phenylene nanowires, which can subsequently be fused sideways to form atomically precise aGNRs of varying widths. We measure the frontier bands by means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy, corroborating that the nanoribbon's band gap is inversely proportional to their width. Interestingly, valence bands are found to show Fermi level pinning as the band gap decreases below a threshold value around 1.7 eV. Such behavior is of critical importance to understand the properties of potential contacts in GNR-based devices. Our measurements further reveal a particularly interesting system for studying Fermi level pinning by modifying an adsorbate's band gap while maintaining an almost unchanged interface chemistry defined by substrate and adsorbate.

Controlling the growth of multiple ordered heteromolecular phases by utilizing intermolecular repulsion

Metal/organic interfaces and their structural, electronic, spintronic and thermodynamic properties have been investigated intensively, aiming to improve and develop future electronic devices. In this context, heteromolecular phases add new design opportunities simply by combining different molecules. However, controlling the desired phases in such complex systems is a challenging task. Here, we report an effective way of steering the growth of a bimolecular system composed of adsorbate species with opposite intermolecular interactions-repulsive and attractive, respectively. The repulsive species forms a two-dimensional lattice gas, the density of which controls which crystalline phases are stable. Critical gas phase densities determine the constant-area phase diagram that describes our experimental observations, including eutectic regions with three coexisting phases. We anticipate the general validity of this type of phase diagram for binary systems containing two-dimensional gas phases, and also show that the density of the gas phase allows engineering of the interface structure.

Evidence of enhanced photocurrent response in corannulene films

Experimental optical absorption and photoconductivity spectra of thin films with GW–BSE theoretical predictions provide evidence for diffuse super atomic molecular orbitals (SAMOs) in corannulene, C₂₀H₁₀.

Two-dimensional core-shell donor-acceptor assemblies at metal-organic interfaces promoted by surface-mediated charge transfer

Organic charge transfer (CT) complexes obtained by combining molecular electron donors and acceptors have attracted much interest due to their potential applications in organic opto-electronic devices. In order to work, these systems must have an electronic matching - the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the donor must couple with the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the acceptor - and a structural matching, so as to allow direct intermolecular CT. Here it is shown that, when molecules are adsorbed on a metal surface, novel molecular organizations driven by surface-mediated CT can appear that have no counterpart in condensed phase non-covalent assemblies of donor and acceptor molecules. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy it is demonstrated that the electronic and self-assembly properties of an electron acceptor molecule can change dramatically in the presence of an additional molecular species with marked electron donor character, leading to the formation of unprecedented core-shell assemblies. DFT and classical force-field simulations reveal that this is a consequence of charge transfer from the donor to the acceptor molecules mediated by the metallic substrate.

Thermodynamic Control of Two-Dimensional Molecular Ionic Nanostructures on Metal Surfaces

Bulk molecular ionic solids exhibit fascinating electronic properties, including electron correlations, phase transitions, and superconducting ground states. In contrast, few of these phenomena have been observed in low-dimensional molecular structures, including thin films, nanoparticles, and molecular blends, not in the least because most of such structures have been composed of nearly closed-shell molecules. It is therefore desirable to develop low-dimensional ionic molecular structures that can capture potential applications. Here, we present detailed analysis of monolayer-thick structures of the canonical TTF-TCNQ (tetrathiafulvalene 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) system grown on low-index gold and silver surfaces. The most distinctive property of the epitaxial growth is the wide abundance of stable TTF/TCNQ ratios, in sharp contrast to the predominance of a 1:1 ratio in the bulk. We propose the existence of the surface phase diagram that controls the structures of TTF-TCNQ on the surfaces and demonstrate phase transitions that occur upon progressively increasing the density of TCNQ while keeping the surface coverage of TTF fixed. Based on direct observations, we propose the binding motif behind the stable phases and infer the dominant interactions that enable the existence of the rich spectrum of surface structures. Finally, we also show that the surface phase diagram will control the epitaxy beyond monolayer coverage. Multiplicity of stable surface structures, the corollary rich phase diagram, and the corresponding phase transitions present an interesting opportunity for low-dimensional molecular systems, particularly if some of the electronic properties of the bulk can be preserved or modified in the surface phases.

Intermolecular Hybridization Creating Nanopore Orbital in a Supramolecular Hydrocarbon Sheet

Molecular orbital engineering is a key ingredient for the design of organic devices. Intermolecular hybridization promises efficient charge carrier transport but usually requires dense packing for significant wave function overlap. Here we use scanning tunneling spectroscopy to spatially resolve the electronic structure of a surface-confined nanoporous supramolecular sheet of a prototypical hydrocarbon compound featuring terminal alkyne (-CCH) groups. Surprisingly, localized nanopore orbitals are observed, with their electron density centered in the cavities surrounded by the functional moieties. Density functional theory calculations reveal that these new electronic states originate from the intermolecular hybridization of six in-plane π-orbitals of the carbon-carbon triple bonds, exhibiting significant electronic splitting and an energy downshift of approximately 1 eV. Importantly, these nanopore states are distinct from previously reported interfacial states. We unravel the underlying connection between the formation of nanopore orbital and geometric arrangements of functional groups, thus demonstrating the generality of applying related orbital engineering concepts in various types of porous organic structures.

STM study of PTCDA on Sn/Si(111)-2√3×2√3

The electronic structures of perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride on Sn/Si(111)-2√3×2√3 have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Individual molecules have been investigated at 0.15 ML, while at 0.3 ML molecules formed short rods. At 0.6 ML, the molecular rods interacted with each other, coupling with the substrate and forming a new 4√3×2√3 super structure. At 0.9 ML, the surface was further reconstructed and consisted of strips with two and three rods of molecules. We found that these surface structures are strongly modified by the molecule/substrate and the intermolecular interactions. As a result, the HOMO-LUMO gaps of these molecules change with respect to the phases and the thickness. For a single molecular layer of the 4√3×2√3 phase, the HOMO-LUMO levels were split with a gap of approximately 2.1 eV, which is caused by charge transfer from the substrate to the molecules.

Multi-Component Organic Layers on Metal Substrates

Increasingly high hopes are being placed on organic semiconductors for a variety of applications. Progress along these lines, however, requires the design and growth of increasingly complex systems with well-defined structural and electronic properties. These issues have been studied and reviewed extensively in single-component layers, but the focus is gradually shifting towards more complex and functional multi-component assemblies such as donor-acceptor networks. These blends show different properties from those of the corresponding single-component layers, and the understanding on how these properties depend on the different supramolecular environment of multi-component assemblies is crucial for the advancement of organic devices. Here, our understanding of two-dimensional multi-component layers on solid substrates is reviewed. Regarding the structure, the driving forces behind the self-assembly of these systems are described. Regarding the electronic properties, recent insights into how these are affected as the molecule's supramolecular environment changes are explained. Key information for the design and controlled growth of complex, functional multicomponent structures by self-assembly is summarized.

Seamless growth of a supramolecular carpet

Organic/metal interfaces play crucial roles in the formation of intermolecular networks on metal surfaces and the performance of organic devices. Although their purity and uniformity have profound effects on the operation of organic devices, the formation of organic thin films with high interfacial uniformity on metal surfaces has suffered from the intrinsic limitation of molecular ordering imposed by irregular surface structures. Here we demonstrate a supramolecular carpet with widely uniform interfacial structure and high adaptability on a metal surface via a one-step process. The high uniformity is achieved with well-balanced interfacial interactions and site-specific molecular rearrangements, even on a pre-annealed amorphous gold surface. Co-existing electronic structures show selective availability corresponding to the energy region and the local position of the system. These findings provide not only a deeper insight into organic thin films with high structural integrity, but also a new way to tailor interfacial geometric and electronic structures.

Role of the Substrate Orientation in the Photoinduced Electron Dynamics at the Porphyrin/Ag Interface

Photochemically activated reactions, despite being a powerful tool to covalently stabilize self-organized molecular structures on metallic surfaces, have struggled to take off due to several not yet well understood light-driven processes that can affect the final result. A thorough understanding of the photoinduced charge transfer mechanisms at the organic/metal interface would pave the way to controlling these processes and to developing on-surface photochemistry. Here, by time-resolved two-photon photoemission measurements, we track the relaxation processes of the first two excited molecular states at the interface between porphyrin, the essential chromophore in chlorophyll, and two different orientations of the silver surface. Due to the energy alignment of the porphyrin first excited state with the unoccupied sp-bands, an indirect charge transfer path, from the substrate to the molecule, opens in porphyrin/Ag(100) 250 fs after the laser pump excitation. The same time-resolved measurements carried out on porphyrin/Ag(111) show that in the latter case such an indirect path is not viable.

Rational design of two-dimensional molecular donor-acceptor nanostructure arrays

The construction of long-range ordered organic donor-acceptor nanostructure arrays over microscopic areas supported on solid substrates is one of the most challenging tasks towards the realization of molecular nanodevices. They can also be used as ideal model systems to understand light induced charge transfer, charge separation and energy conversion processes and mechanisms at the nanometer scale. The aim of this paper is to highlight recent advances and progress in this topic. Special attention is given to two different strategies for the construction of organic donor-acceptor nanostructure arrays, namely (i) molecular self-assembly on artificially patterned or pre-defined molecular surface nanotemplates and (ii) molecular nanostructure formation steered via directional and selective intermolecular interactions. The interfacial charge transfer and the energy level alignment of these donor-acceptor nanostructures are also discussed.

Spectroscopic fingerprints of work-function-controlled phthalocyanine charging on metal surfaces

The electronic character of a π-conjugated molecular overlayer on a metal surface can change from semiconducting to metallic, depending on how molecular orbitals arrange with respect to the electrode's Fermi level. Molecular level alignment is thus a key property that strongly influences the performance of organic-based devices. In this work, we report how the electronic level alignment of copper phthalocyanines on metal surfaces can be tailored by controlling the substrate work function. We even show the way to finely tune it for one fixed phthalocyanine-metal combination without the need to intercalate substrate-functionalizing buffer layers. Instead, the work function is trimmed by appropriate design of the phthalocyanine's supramolecular environment, such that charge transfer into empty molecular levels can be triggered across the metal-organic interface. These intriguing observations are the outcome of a powerful combination of surface-sensitive electron spectroscopies, which further reveal a number of characteristic spectroscopic fingerprints of a lifted LUMO degeneracy associated with the partial phthalocyanine charging.

Metal/Phthalocyanine Hybrid Interface States on Ag(111)

A phthalocyanine/Ag(111) interface state is observed for the first time using time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission. For monolayer films of metal-free (H2Pc) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc) on Ag(111), the state exists 0.23 ± 0.03 and 0.31 ± 0.03 eV above the Fermi level, respectively. Angle-resolved spectra show the state to be highly dispersive with an effective mass of 0.50 ± 0.15 me for H2Pc and 0.67 ± 0.14 me for FePc. Density functional theory calculations on the H2Pc/Ag(111) surface allow us to characterize this state as being a hybrid state resulting from the interaction between the unoccupied molecular states of the phthalocyanine ligand and the Shockley surface state present on the bare Ag(111) surface. This work, when taken together with the extensive literature on the 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride/Ag interface state, provides compelling evidence that the hybridization of metal surface states with molecular electronic states is a general phenomenon.

Unexpected interplay of bonding height and energy level alignment at heteromolecular hybrid interfaces

Although geometric and electronic properties of any physical or chemical system are always mutually coupled by the rules of quantum mechanics, counterintuitive coincidences between the two are sometimes observed. The coadsorption of the organic molecules 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride and copper-II-phthalocyanine on Ag(111) represents such a case, since geometric and electronic structures appear to be decoupled: one molecule moves away from the substrate while its electronic structure indicates a stronger chemical interaction, and vice versa for the other. Our comprehensive experimental and ab-initio theoretical study reveals that, mediated by the metal surface, both species mutually amplify their charge-donating and -accepting characters, respectively. This resolves the apparent paradox, and demonstrates with exceptional clarity how geometric and electronic bonding parameters are intertwined at metal-organic interfaces.

Formation of an Organic/Metal Interface State from a Shockley Resonance

The emergence of an organic/metal interface state is studied for the interface between 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PTCDA) and Ag(100) by means of time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission and density functional theory. The interface state is located in the projected band gap of Ag(100), 2.3 eV above the Fermi level, and has an electron lifetime in the 10 fs range. The interface state has no direct counterpart on the clean Ag(100) surface, which only exhibits a broad resonance at ≈1 eV lower energy. Our results thus show that organic overlayers are able to shift such a resonance substantially and even qualitatively change its character to a distinct electronic state at the interface.

Ordered arrays of metal-organic magnets at surfaces

We report here on the molecular self-assembly of 7, 7', 8, 8' tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) (schematic representation of the molecule on figure 1(b)) on a single-crystal Cu(111) surface, followed by deposition of Fe and Mn, and on the formation of an ordered metal–organic coordination network of Fe (or Mn)–TCNQ units, which contains magnetic ions separated by 0.9 nm.

Obtaining detailed structural information about supramolecular systems on surfaces by combining high-resolution force microscopy with ab initio calculations

State-of-the art experimental techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy have great difficulties in extracting detailed structural information about molecules adsorbed on surfaces. By combining atomic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy with ab initio calculations, we demonstrate that we can obtain a wealth of detailed structural information about the molecule itself and its environment. Studying an FFPB molecule on a gold surface, we are able to determine its exact location on the surface, the nature of its bonding properties with neighboring molecules that lead to the growth of one-dimensional strips, and the internal torsions and bendings of the molecule.

Surface-state engineering for interconnects on H-passivated Si(100)

Surface-state engineering strategies for atomic-size interconnects on H-passivated Si(100) surfaces are explored. The well-known simple interconnect formed by removing H-atoms from one of the Si atoms per dimer of a dimer row along the Si(100) surface is poorly conducting. This is because one-dimensional-like instabilities open electronic gaps. Here, we explore two strategies to reduce the instabilities: spacing the dangling bonds with H atoms and changing the geometry by increasing the lateral size of the wires. The resulting wires are evaluated using density functional theory. Surprisingly, zigzag dangling-bond wires attain atomically confined conduction properties comparable with the conduction of free-standing metallic monatomic wires. These results hint at band-engineering strategies for the development of electronically driven nanocircuits.

Enhanced charge transfer in a monolayer of the organic charge transfer complex TTF-TNAP on Au(111)

Electronic doping is a key concept for tuning the properties of organic materials. In bulk structures, the charge transfer between donor and acceptor is mainly given by the respective ionization potential and electron affinity. In contrast, monolayers of charge transfer complexes in contact with a metal are affected by an intriguing interplay of hybridization and screening at the metallic interface, determining the resulting charge state. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we characterize the electronic properties of the organic acceptor molecule 11,11,12,12-tetracyanonaptho-2,6-quinodimethane (TNAP) adsorbed on a Au(111) surface. The ordered islands remain in a weakly physisorbed state with no charge transfer interaction with the substrate. When the electron donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) is added, ordered arrays of alternating TNAP and TTF rows are assembled. In these structures, we find the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the free TNAP molecule shifted well below the Fermi level of the substrate. The TNAP is thus charged with more than one electron.

Arylthio-substituted coronenes as tailored building blocks for molecular electronics

The electron transport through molecules in molecular devices is typically influenced by the nature of the interfaces with the contacting electrodes and by the interactions between neighbouring molecules. It is a major goal of molecular electronics to adjust the electronic function of a molecular device by tailoring the intrinsic molecular properties and the interfacial and intermolecular interactions. Here, we report on the tunability of the electronic properties of coronene derivatives, namely dodecakis(arylthio)coronenes (DATCs), which are found to exhibit a three-dimensional aromatic system. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), spectroscopy (STS) and simulations based on the density functional theory (DFT) are employed to characterize the structural and electronic properties of these molecules deposited on Au(111) surfaces. It is shown that modifications of the peripheral aryl-groups allow us to specifically affect the self-assembly and the charge transport characteristics of the molecules. Molecular assemblies like supramolecular wires with highly delocalized orbitals and single molecules with molecular "quantum dot" characteristics are obtained in this way.

Gating the charge state of single molecules by local electric fields

The electron-acceptor molecule TCNQ is found in either of two distinct integer charge states when embedded into a monolayer of a charge transfer complex on a gold surface. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements identify these states through the presence or absence of a zero-bias Kondo resonance. Increasing the (tip-induced) electric field allows us to reversibly induce the oxidation or reduction of TCNQ species from their anionic or neutral ground state, respectively. We show that the different ground states arise from slight variations in the underlying surface potential, pictured here as the gate of a three-terminal device.

Dispersion and localization of electronic states at a ferrocene/Cu(111) interface

Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy combined with first-principles simulations reveal a nondissociative physisorption of ferrocene molecules on a Cu(111) surface, giving rise to ordered molecular layers. At the interface, a 2D-like electronic band is found, which shows an identical dispersion as the Cu(111) Shockley surface-state band. Subsequent deposition of Cu atoms forms charged organometallic compounds that localize interface-state electrons.

Ammonia adsorption on iron phthalocyanine on Au(111): influence on adsorbate-substrate coupling and molecular spin

The adsorption of ammonia on Au(111)-supported monolayers of iron phthalocyanine has been investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. The ammonia-induced changes of the x-ray photoemission lines show that a dative bond is formed between ammonia and the iron center of the phthalocyanine molecules, and that the local spin on the iron atom is quenched. This is confirmed by density functional theory, which also shows that the bond between the iron center of the metalorganic complex and the Au(111) substrate is weakened upon adsorption of ammonia. The experimental results further show that additional adsorption sites exist for ammonia on the iron phthalocyanine monolayer.

Site-Dependent Coordination Bonding in Self-Assembled Metal-Organic Networks

The combination of organic linkers with metal atoms on top of inorganic substrates offers promising perspectives for functional electronic and magnetic nanoscale devices. Typically, coordination bonds between electron-rich end groups and transition-metal atoms lead to the self-assembly of metal-organic nanostructures, whose shape and electronic and magnetic properties crucially depend on the type of ligand. Here, we report on the site-selective bonding properties of Co atoms to the dichotomic dicyanoazobenzene molecule with its carbonitrile and diazo N-based moieties as possible ligands. Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy measurements, we resolve the formation of self-assembled metal-organic motifs. Cobalt atoms exhibit a clear spectroscopic fingerprint dependent on the different coordination site, which is further used to map their position, otherwise not clearly visible in the topographic STM images. Density functional theory corroborates the observed bonding patterns and evidences their coordinative nature.