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Title: Oriented cluster formation of endohedral Y@C{sub 82} metallofullerenes on clean surfaces

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry

An oriented head-to-tail cluster formation of an endohedral yttrium metallofullerene, Y@C{sub 82}, on a Cu(111)I x 1 clean surface has been observed directly by the use of a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. The STM observation reveals that the Y@C{sub 82} molecules preferentially form dimers and one-dimensional clusters at the step edge of the Cu(111) surface. The observed intermolecular distance (11.2 {+-} 0.5 A) is smaller than that of the simple Y@C{sub 82}, Y@C{sub 82} van der Waals distance (11.4 A), indicating the presence of a strong interfullerene interaction. The STM results suggest the presence of strong dipole-dipole and charge-transfer interactions among Y@C{sub 82} fullerenes. Such a molecule has a great similarity to the `superatom` features proposed theoretically in a semiconductor heterostructure. 30 refs., 5 figs.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
111218
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 99, Issue 38; Other Information: PBD: 21 Sep 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English