Self-assembly of C on a ZnTPP/Fe(001)-(1 × 1)O substrate: observation of a quasi-freestanding C monolayer.

Fullerene (C) has been deposited in ultrahigh vacuum on top of a zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) monolayer self-assembled on a Fe(001)-(1 × 1)O substrate. The nanoscale morphology and the electronic properties of the C/ZnTPP/Fe(001)-(1 × 1)O heterostructure have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. C nucleates compact and well-ordered hexagonal domains on top of the ZnTPP buffer layer, suggesting a high surface diffusivity of C and a weak coupling between the overlayer and the substrate.

Observation of a Metastable Honeycomb Arrangement of C on Ni(111) with (7 × 7) Periodicity: Tailoring an Interface for Organic Spintronics.

Hybrid nanostructures in which organic molecules are interfaced with metal surfaces hold promise for the discovery of intriguing physical and chemical phenomena, as well as for the development of innovative devices. In this frame, it is crucial to understand the interplay between the structural details of the interface and the electronic properties of the system. Here, an experimental investigation of the C/Ni(111) interface is performed by means of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED).

An In-Depth Assessment of the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of a Highly Ordered Hybrid Interface: The Case of Nickel Tetra-Phenyl-Porphyrins on Fe(001)-(1 × 1)O.

In this paper we focus on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Ni tetra-phenyl-porphyrins (NiTPP) grown on top of Fe(001)-(1 × 1)O. Ordered thin films of metal TPP molecules are potentially interesting for organic electronic and spintronic applications, especially when they are coupled to a ferromagnetic substrate. Unfortunately, porphyrin layers deposited on top of ferromagnetic substrates do not generally show long-range order.

3-dimensional nucleation of Fe oxide induced by a graphene buffer layer.

Shaping the morphology of oxide nanolayers is of paramount importance in tailoring their physical and chemical properties. Here, the influence of a two dimensional graphene buffer layer on the growth of Fe oxide has been investigated by comparing the oxide deposition on a Ni(111) and a graphene/Ni(111) substrate. Scanning tunneling microscopy images acquired at a mesoscopic scale indicate that Fe oxide grows layer-by-layer on the bare Ni(111) surface, while the nucleation of three-dimensional clusters is induced by graphene.

Graphene as an Ideal Buffer Layer for the Growth of High-Quality Ultrathin CrO Layers on Ni(111).

Metal-oxide nanostructures play a fundamental role in a large number of technological applications, ranging from chemical sensors to data storage devices. As the size of the devices shrinks down to the nanoscale, it is mandatory to obtain sharp and good quality interfaces. Here, it is shown that a two-dimensional material, namely, graphene, can be exploited as an ideal buffer layer to tailor the properties of the interface between a metallic substrate and an ultrathin oxide.

Enhanced Magnetic Hybridization of a Spinterface through Insertion of a Two-Dimensional Magnetic Oxide Layer.

Interfaces between organic semiconductors and ferromagnetic metals offer intriguing opportunities in the rapidly developing field of organic spintronics. Understanding and controlling the spin-polarized electronic states at the interface is the key toward a reliable exploitation of this kind of systems. Here we propose an approach consisting in the insertion of a two-dimensional magnetic oxide layer at the interface with the aim of both increasing the reproducibility of the interface preparation and offering a way for a further fine control over the electronic and magnetic properties.

Filled and empty states of Zn-TPP films deposited on Fe(001)-(1×1)O.

Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin (Zn-TPP) was deposited on a single layer of metal oxide, namely an Fe(001)-(1×1)O surface. The filled and empty electronic states were measured by means of UV photoemission and inverse photoemission spectroscopy on a single monolayer and a 20 monolayer thick film. The ionization energy and the electron affinity of the organic film were deduced and the interface dipole was determined and compared with data available in the literature.

Controlling the Electronic and Structural Coupling of C Nano Films on Fe(001) through Oxygen Adsorption at the Interface.

C molecules coupled to metals form hybrid systems exploited in a broad range of emerging fields, such as nanoelectronics, spintronics, and photovoltaic solar cells. The electronic coupling at the C/metal interface plays a crucial role in determining the charge and spin transport in C-based devices; therefore, a detailed understanding of the interface electronic structure is a prerequisite to engineering the device functionalities. Here, we compare the electronic and structural properties of C monolayers interfaced with Fe(001) and oxygen-passivated Fe(001)-p(1 × 1)O substrates.