Chiral transfers and chiral switching in bilayer of vanadyl phthalocyanine.

Chiral transfer and chiral switch in the bilayer of achiral vanadyl phthalocyanine (VOPc) on Cd(0001) have been investigated with low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the monolayer regime, the VOPc molecules form a self-assembled layer consisting of periodic chiral voids. Further deposition of VOPc leads to the bilayer formation with an O-up top layer and an O-down bottom layer.

Structural transition and interconversion between the 2D self-assembled structures of pentacene.

The 2D self-assemblies and structural transitions of pentacene on a Cd(0001) surface have been investigated with low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). With increasing coverage, pentacene molecules show a structural evolution from the initial disordered gas-like phase through the porous network phase to the herringbone phase, and finally to the brickwall phase at the full monolayer. In particular, orientational frustration and cooperative rotation of pentacene molecules take place in the herringbone phase.

Spontaneous chiral resolution of pentahelicene molecules on Cd(0001).

Chiral resolution is of fundamental importance to conglomerate or racemate crystallization. Here we demonstrate that the spontaneous chiral resolution of pentahelicene racemates occurred in the monolayer domains. When deposited on a Cd(0001) surface, pentahelicene molecules crystallize into a commensurate (6 × 6)0° structure built mainly from homochiral trimers.

Structure transition of a C monolayer on the Bi(111) surface.

The interfacial structures of C molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces are essential for a wide range of scientific and technological processes in carbon-based nanodevices. Here, we report structural transitions of the C monolayer on the Bi(111) surface studied low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). With an increase in temperature, the structure of the C monolayer transforms from local-order structures to a (√93 × √93) R20° superstructure, and then to a (11 × 11) R0° superstructure.

Strain-Relief Patterns and Kagome Lattice in Self-Assembled C Thin Films Grown on Cd(0001).

We report an ultra-high vacuum low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the C monolayer grown on Cd(0001). Individual C molecules adsorbed on Cd(0001) may exhibit a bright or dim contrast in STM images. When deposited at low temperatures close to 100 K, C thin films present a curved structure to release strain due to dominant molecule-substrate interactions.

Orientation Ordering and Chiral Superstructures in Fullerene Monolayer on Cd (0001).

The structure of C thin films grown on Cd (0001) surface has been investigated from submonolayer to second monolayer regimes with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). There are different C domains with various misorientation angles relative to the lattice directions of Cd (0001). In the (2√3 × 2√3) R30° domain, orientational disorder of the individual C molecules with either pentagon, hexagon, or 6:6 bond facing up has been observed.