The self-assembly and metal adatom coordination of a linear bis-tetrazole ligand on Ag(111)

Abstract

We employ a linear linker molecule consisting of a benzene functionalised with two tetrazole moieties at para positions. Its self-assembly and coordination with the native silver adatoms and codeposited Fe adatoms on a Ag(111) surface under ultra high vacuum conditions are investigated by means of scanning tunnelling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We discover a rich spectrum of room-temperature stable Ag and Fe²⁺ coordination nodes depending on the formation temperature.