Electronic Decoupling of Aromatic Molecules from a Metal by an Atomically Thin Organic Spacer

Abstract

Electronic coupling effects of organic adsorbates to metallic surfaces are examined optically. Covering a Au(111) substrate with an ultrathin (∼0.3 nm) nanographene-like layer of flat lying molecules leads to decoupling of further molecular layers to a large extent. Our work suggests that not only inorganic salts or oxides can be used as insulating spacers but also particular organic monolayers. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.