AVS 56th International Symposium & Exhibition
    Surface Science Thursday Sessions
       Session SS2-ThA

Paper SS2-ThA6
Fuctionalized C60 SAMs Diversity Via Molecular Conformation Variability

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 3:40 pm, Room N

Session: Supramolecular Interfaces by Design
Presenter: B. Diaconescu, University of New Hampshire
Authors: B. Diaconescu, University of New Hampshire
T. Yang, Michigan State University
M. Jazdzyk, University of New Hampshire
G. Miller, University of New Hampshire
D. Tomanek, Michigan State University
K. Pohl, University of New Hampshire
Correspondent: Click to Email
Self-assembled organic thin films have a great number of practical applications, ranging from sensors and biological interfaces in medical implants to organic electronics and photovoltaics. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) form as a result of a delicate balance between competing molecule-substrate and intermolecular interactions. In order to control such self-organization processes, it is crucial to understand how this balance reflects onto the SAM's equilibrium structure. We will present a STM/DFT study of the self-assembly of C60 functionalized with alkyl chains of various lengths (F-C60) on Ag(111). We find that various structures are forming as a function of the alkyl chain lengths, ranging from zigzag to linear arrays of C60 cages, and they are driven by molecular conformational changes induced by the interaction with the surface. The symmetry of the F-C60 SAM is dictated by the molecular conformation, a consequence of molecule-surface interaction, while the size of the unit cell is a consequence of the intermolecular interactions. These results show that C60s can be assembled in 2D and non-compact molecular arrays with a unit cell symmetry and size controllable via appropriate chemical functionalization.