Fullerene monolayers adsorbed on high index gold single crystal surfaces

Abstract

Copper underpotential deposition (Cu UPD) and STM studies have been carried out on fullerene (C₆₀) modified Au single crystal surfaces to determine the influence of crystal orientation on the structure of adsorbed C₆₀ overlayers. High coverage could be achieved for C₆₀ on all the surfaces studied, Au(111), Au(332) and Au(554). In each case, hexagonal and/or quasi-hexagonal arrays of adsorbed C₆₀ were formed, with distortion from the ideal hexagonal packing arising from the constrained width of the terraces of the stepped surfaces. The structural parameters of the C₆₀ overlayers were found to be sensitive to the terrace width.