Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B Microelectronics and Nanometer Structures Processing Measurement and Phenomena · 1991 · 28 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesChemistryMaterials ScienceMolecular ImagingSurface ChemistrySurface ScienceMolecular SymmetryNanostructured SurfacesScanning Probe MicroscopySurface Chemistry Of SolidsSurface CrystallographySurface PhysicsAdsorption Layer StructureAdsorption LayersAtomic-scale Surface ImagingMolecular Adsorption ImagingMolecular Orientation At SurfacesRotationsStep EdgesSurface Adsorbate Ordering
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used to examine the adsorption system of naphthalene on Pt(111). The images show molecules in three discrete rotational orientations, 120° apart. Images of an ordered naphthalene monolayer show molecules on a (3×3) Pt lattice, with internal domain structure which exhibits pseudo-(6×3) symmetry. Low coverage naphthalene forms a disordered layer uniformly distributed over the surface, with evidence for molecular rotations and translations between subsequent STM images. Images of cleaned Pt(111) without molecules show the interaction of carbon islands on the surface with Pt step edges.