Molecular structure and chiral separation in {alpha}-sexithiophene ultrathin films on Au(111): Low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy
- Institute of Physics, Martin-Luther-Universitaet Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Germany)
The adsorption of the {pi}-conjugated organic molecule {alpha}-sexithiophene which is widely used in molecular electronics has been studied on Au(111) by low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. For monolayer adsorption at room temperature, large, well-ordered domains of flat-lying molecules which arrange in molecular rows are observed. A detailed structure analysis reveals an incommensurate, line-on-line oriented monolayer with one molecule per unit cell. In contrast to the behavior in the three-dimensional bulk structure, flat-lying adsorption introduces molecular chirality: Right- and left-handed molecules separate into domains of different orientations which are mirror symmetric with respect to the [112] substrate direction. Details of the adlayer structure and the chiral self-recognition can be rationalized based on the van der Waals contour of the adsorbed molecules.
- OSTI ID:
- 20951435
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 75, Issue 19; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.75.195439; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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