Scanning tunneling microscope study of iron(II) phthalocyanine growth on metals and insulating surfaces

• Published in: Surface science Vol. 602; no. 3; pp. 677 - 683
• Main Authors: Scarfato, Alessandro, Chang, Shih-Hsin, Kuck, Stefan, Brede, Jens, Hoffmann, Germar, Wiesendanger, Roland
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01-02-2008; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc); Molecule–molecule interaction; Molecule–substrate interaction; NaCl; Physics; Scanning tunneling microscope (STM); NaCl; Iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc); Molecule–substrate interaction; Molecule–molecule interaction; Scanning tunneling microscope (STM); Scanning tunneling microscopy; Inorganic compounds; Molecule-molecule interaction; Molecule-substrate interaction; Transition elements; Iron; Sodium chloride; Phthalocyanines
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2007.11.011

The growth behavior of iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules on Cu(1
1
1) and on NaCl/Cu(1
1
1) surfaces has been studied by a variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Upon deposition at room temperature, FePc molecules with different adsorption configurations form short-ranged ordered domains on Cu(1
1
1). In the second FePc monolayer long-range ordering is observed. Molecule–molecule and molecule–substrate interactions are discussed in comparison with previous findings for FePc on Au(1
1
1). In order to reduce molecule–substrate interaction insulating NaCl layers are introduced. FePc molecules adsorb on Cl
− anion sites but show high mobility during preparation. Our results provide detailed insight into the growth behavior of organic molecules on metallic and insulating surfaces.