Strain Induced Dewetting of a Molecular System: Bimodal Growth of PTCDA on NaCl

S. A. Burke, W. Ji, J. M. Mativetsky, J. M. Topple, S. Fostner, H.-J. Gao, H. Guo, and P. Grütter
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 186104 – Published 9 May 2008
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Abstract

Submonolayer coverages of the molecule 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) deposited on NaCl(001) surfaces were imaged with high resolution noncontact-atomic force microscopy. Two island types were observed: monolayer islands with a p3×3 epitaxy at low coverage and a mixture of these and bulklike crystallites at higher coverage. The transition between the pure monolayer islands and mixed islands occurs at 0.85ML, corresponding to a complete p3×3 layer. Calculations show the p3×3 epitaxy to be incompatible with a multilayer crystal of PTCDA. Consequently, the growth of additional layers results in an adaptation of the interface structure forcing a dewetting transition.

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  • Received 23 November 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.186104

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. A. Burke1, W. Ji1,2, J. M. Mativetsky1, J. M. Topple1, S. Fostner1, H.-J. Gao2, H. Guo1, and P. Grütter1

  • 1Centre for the Physics of Materials and Department of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2T8
  • 2Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 603, Beijing 100080, China

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Vol. 100, Iss. 18 — 9 May 2008

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