AVS 51st International Symposium
    Surface Science Monday Sessions
       Session SS1-MoM

Paper SS1-MoM3
Benzene on Au{111} at 4 K: Observation of Molecular Cascades and Substrate-Mediated Interactions

Monday, November 15, 2004, 9:00 am, Room 210B

Session: Electronic Structure and Excitations
Presenter: P. Han, The Pennsylvania State University
Authors: P. Han, The Pennsylvania State University
E.C.H. Sykes, The Pennsylvania State University
B.A. Mantooth, The Pennsylvania State University
Z.J. Donhauser, The Pennsylvania State University
P.S. Weiss, The Pennsylvania State University
Correspondent: Click to Email
The role of the surface electronic structure was previously shown to have important implications on the long-range intermolecular interactions, molecular alignment and dynamics through substrate-mediated interactions (SMI) [1]. To date, attempts at quantifying SMI using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) involve statistical measurements of STM images of static systems [2]. Here we present the study of benzene monolayer growth on a Au{111} surface using low temperature STM at 4 K. In this study, the tip-induced motion in the benzene overlayer was observed with 600 time-lapse STM images and it allowed us to statistically quantify the forces involved in SMI from a kinetic stand point. These estimates helped us explain the kinetics of the benzene motion, as well as the thermodynamics that determine the packing structure over the various regions of the reconstructed Au{111} surface. We also report the observation of tip-induced molecular cascade motion, and demonstrate that this observed motion is concerted in nature, not a result of individual random movements [3]. @FootnoteText@ [1] E. C. H. Sykes, P. Han, S. A. Kandel, K. F. Kelly, G. S. McCarty, and P. S. Weiss, Accounts Chem. Res. 36 (12), 945 (2003). [2] J. Repp, F. Moresco, G. Meyer, K. H. Rieder, P. Hyldgaard, and M. Persson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 (14), 2981 (2000); N. Knorr, H. Brune, M. Epple, A. Hirstein, M. A. Schneider, and K. Kern, Phys. Rev. B 65 (11) (2002). [3] P. Han, B. A. Mantooth, E. C. H. Sykes, Z. J. Donhauser, and P. S. Weiss, Accepted for publication by J. Am. Chem. Soc; E. C. H. Sykes, B. A. Mantooth, P. Han, Z. J. Donhauser, and P. S. Weiss, in preparation for J. Am. Chem. Soc.