C60 adsorption on a dodecagonal oxide quasicrystal

E. M. Zollner, S. Schenk, S. Förster, and W. Widdra
Phys. Rev. B 100, 205414 – Published 14 November 2019

Abstract

Quasicrystalline surfaces are potential templates for highly ordered but aperiodic molecular self-assemblies. Here, we report on the adsorption of C60 molecules on a two-dimensional oxide quasicrystal (OQC) and its σ-phase approximant at room temperature and 150K. The molecular films have been characterized by means of scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron diffraction. A weak interaction of the molecules with the dodecagonal oxide template is found, resulting in a low desorption temperature of 510K. For low temperatures specific adsorption sites within the tiling of the OQC and the σ-phase approximant have been identified as preferred nucleation sites. The narrow spacing between these sites introduces repulsive interaction between C60 molecules and restricts the epitaxial growth to small patches. At room temperature, C60 nucleates in hcp islands of almost arbitrary rotational orientation on the OQC. A slight orientational preference for hexagonal islands with a 15 rotation against the OQC tiling is discussed as a consequence of the preferential adsorption on the quadratic tiles.

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  • Received 30 August 2019
  • Revised 24 October 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.100.205414

©2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

E. M. Zollner1, S. Schenk1, S. Förster1,*, and W. Widdra1,2

  • 1Institute of Physics, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, D-06099 Halle, Germany
  • 2Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany

  • *stefan.foerster@physik.uni-halle.de

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Issue

Vol. 100, Iss. 20 — 15 November 2019

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