Orientationally ordered C60 on p-sexiphenyl nanostripes on Ag(111)

Abstract

Long range orientational ordering within C60 monolayers is observed on p-sexithiophene (6P) monolayer nanostripes on Ag(111) at 77 K. Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy studies reveal that the C60-6P intermolecular interaction constrains all C60 molecules to adsorb on their hexagons atop 6P molecules. The orientation-dependent bond-to-bond Coulomb interaction between charge deficient single bonds and double bonds with excess charge in neighboring C60 molecules results in the in-plane orientational ordering and contributes to the lowering of the total energy of the orientationally ordered C60 islands. © 2008 American Chemical Society.