Growth study of para-sexiphenyl on Ag(001): From single molecule to crystalline film

Michael Hollerer*, Stefan Pachmajer, Daniel Lüftner, Boris Butej, Eva Maria Reinisch, Peter Puschnig, Georg Koller, Michael G. Ramsey, Martin Sterrer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this work we investigate the formation of crystalline organic thin films for p-sexiphenyl (6P) on Ag(001) with a combination of STM, LEED, TPD, SFM, UPS, XRD and DFT. For weakly interacting van-der-Waals-dominated systems of small organic molecules on single crystalline metals we demonstrate the complex epitaxial evolution from sub-monolayer to bulk structure. In the delicate interplay between molecule-substrate and intermolecular interactions we identify the oligo-phenyl's flexibility of central importance for the film growth. We observe a change from a planar to a twisted molecular conformation and, accompanying, a molecular realignment during the formation of a dense monolayer as the result of enhanced 2-dimensional intermolecular interaction. A second molecular realignment occurs collectively for whole domains with the formation of 3-dimensional bilayer structures. Finally the bilayer acts as a template for the epitaxial growth of the molecular thin film, determining the azimuthal orientation and a single contact plane for the organic crystallites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-156
Number of pages8
JournalSurface Science
Volume678
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2018

Keywords

  • Bilayer
  • Molecular conformation
  • Organic thin film
  • Realignment
  • Reorientation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

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