Self-assembled molecular corrals formed on Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface via covalent bond

Abstract

This paper reports the template-induced formation of molecular corrals on the Si(111) surface by taking the advantage of the intrinsic property of the reconstructed (7 × 7) unit cell. Self-assembled molecular corrals have been formed on the Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface by binding pyrrole molecules chemically on the silicon center adatom through the breakage of the N-H bond. The dissociative adsorption of pyrrole on Si(111)-(7 × 7) leads to pyrroyl and H atom binding with an adatom and an adjacent rest atom, respectively. The molecular corral has dramatically modified the electronic property of the silicon surface, which leads to the formation of pyridine dative bonding to Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface at room temperature. The self-assembled molecular corral may provide a template for controlling the molecular binding configurations and quantum confinement effect of nanoclusters. © 2010 American Chemical Society.