Metal organic complexes induce surface nanostripes

Abstract

The actual demand of increasingly smaller devices drives the endeavors to explore new methods to miniaturize the designs. Thus, developments to produce ordered nanostructured surfaces are stimulating fields. In this context, a novedous molecular/substrate interaction mechanism that derives in a unique adsorbate induced surface reconstruction is presented. In particular we show how metalated phthalocyanines can promote the formation of regular arrays of Cu nanoribbons on its (110) surface. At variance with the conventional changes of metal reconstructions upon molecular adsorption observed so far, the presented faceting is found to involve a massive reorganization of Cu adatoms. The energy gain of the final system comes not only from the preferential adsorption position of phthalocyanines on the copper surface, but also from their interaction with the surrounded adatoms. By combining experimental (Scanning Tunneling Microcopy) and theoretical surface science techniques we demonstrate that indeed the mechanism behind the massive surface reshaping involves a molecular mediated uni-directional blocking of diffusing surface adatoms. Optimization of the organization involves extra adatoms trapped between molecules.