Submonolayer growth of copper-phthalocyanine on Ag(111)

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/12/8/083038

Authors: Ingo Kroger (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; JARA (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance)-Future Information Technology) , Benjamin Stadtmueller (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; JARA (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance)-Future Information Technology) , Christoph Stadler (Universität Würzburg) , Johaness Ziroff (Universität Würzburg) , Mario Kochler (Universität Würzburg) , Andreas Stahl (Universität Würzburg) , Florian Pollinger (Universität Würzburg) , Tien-lin Lee (Diamond Light Source) , Jorg Zegenhagen (Diamond Light Source) , Friedrich Reinert (Universität Würzburg) , Christian Kumpf (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; JARA (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance)-Future Information Technology)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: New Journal Of Physics , VOL 12

State: Published (Approved)
Published: January 2010

Abstract: The growth of high-quality thin films is a key issue in the ability to design electronic devices based on organic materials and to tune their properties. In this context, the interfaces between metals and organic films play a decisive role. Here, we report on the interface formation between copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc) and an Ag(111) surface using various complementary methods. High-resolution low-energy electron diffraction revealed a rich phase diagram for this system with disordered (two-dimensional (2D)-gas-like) and ordered structures (commensurate and point-on-line). In particular, a continuous change in lattice parameters with increasing coverage was found for long-range ordered structures, indicating a substrate-mediated repulsive intermolecular interaction similar to the case of tin-phthalocyanine/Ag(111). Chemisorptivebonding to the substrate was found by x-ray standing waves and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and this weakened with increasing coverage at low temperature. This remarkable effect is correlated to a shift in the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and a HOMO-1 split off band to higher binding energies. Based on our experimental results, we present a comprehensive study of the adsorption behavior of CuPc/Ag(111), including the mechanisms for phase formation and molecular interaction.

Subject Areas: Physics

Facility: ESRF