Templated self-assembly and local doping of molecules on epitaxial hexagonal boron nitride

ACS Nano. 2013 Dec 23;7(12):11121-8. doi: 10.1021/nn404840h. Epub 2013 Oct 25.

Abstract

Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on Ir(111) acts as ultrathin insulating layer for organic molecules, while simultaneously templating their self-assembly. Tunneling spectroscopy experiments on cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) reveal narrow molecular resonances and indicate that the charge state of CoPC is periodically modulated by the h-BN moiré superstructure. Molecules in the second layer show site-selective adsorption behavior, allowing the synthesis of molecular dimers that are spatially ordered and inaccessible by usual chemical means.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't