Steering molecular island morphology on an insulator surface by exploiting sequential deposition.

Depending on the deposition order in coadsorption of C(60) and SubPc molecules on CaF(2) (111), distinctly different island morphologies can be obtained. We demonstrate that non-equilibrium processes can play a significant role in molecular structure formation and constitute a new route for complex molecular patterning of an insulating surface.

Second-layer induced island morphologies in thin-film growth of fullerenes.

Deposition of fullerenes on the CaF(2)(111) surface yields peculiar island morphologies with close similarities to previous findings for (100) surfaces of other ionic crystals. By means of noncontact atomic force microscopy we find a smooth transition from compact, triangular islands to branched hexagonal islands upon lowering the temperature. While triangular islands are two monolayers high, hexagonal islands have a base of one monolayer and exhibit a complicated structure with a second-layer outer rim and trenches oriented towards the interior.

Contrast inversion in non-contact atomic force microscopy imaging of C60 molecules.

Non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) was applied to study C(60) molecules on rutile TiO(2)(110). Depending on the tip-sample distance, distinctly different molecular contrasts are observed. Systematically decreasing the tip-sample distance results in contrast inversion that is obtained reproducibly on the C(60) islands.

Growth of ordered C60 islands on TiO2(110).

Non-contact atomic force microscopy is used to study C(60) molecules deposited on the rutile TiO(2)(110) surface in situ at room temperature. At submonolayer coverages, molecules adsorb preferentially at substrate step edges. Upon increasing coverage, ordered islands grow from the decorated step edges onto the lower terraces.