Adsorption configurations and electronic properties of self-assembled C60and C70molecules on a semiconductor CuSe monolayer with periodic nanopores

Gefei Niu; Jianqun Geng; Xingyue Wang; Xiaotian Yang; Wei Xiong; Hui Zhang; Zilin Ruan; Yong Zhang; Lei Gao; Jianchen Lu; Jinming Cai

doi:10.1088/1361-6528/ace05b

Adsorption configurations and electronic properties of self-assembled C₆₀and C₇₀molecules on a semiconductor CuSe monolayer with periodic nanopores

Nanotechnology. 2023 Jul 11;34(39). doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ace05b.

Authors

Gefei Niu¹, Jianqun Geng¹, Xingyue Wang¹, Xiaotian Yang¹, Wei Xiong¹, Hui Zhang¹, Zilin Ruan¹, Yong Zhang¹, Lei Gao², Jianchen Lu¹, Jinming Cai¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, People's Republic of China.
² Faculty of Science, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No. 727 Jingming South Road, Kunming 650500, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 37343548
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ace05b

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) supramolecular self-assembly architectures are considered one of the most significant and challenging topics in nanotechnology and modern organic chemistry. The study of these processes on surfaces is vital to achieving a higher degree of control in the design of supramolecular architecture. Herein, we report on the 2D self-assembly monolayer architectures based on C₆₀and C₇₀molecules on a semiconductor CuSe monolayer with periodic nanopores, which are essential for providing ideas for surface template chemistry. With the aid of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (LT-STM/STS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation methods, we systematically investigate the adsorption configurations and electronic properties of C₆₀and C₇₀on CuSe monolayer with periodic nanopores. Our results show that both the C₆₀and C₇₀molecules above the nanopores will fall into the nanopores, while those on the CuSe surface will show well-defined self-assembly with various adsorption configurations. Besides, through STS measurement, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) and characteristic peaks of fullerene molecules will be slightly different due to different adsorption configurations. This work helps us to study the adsorption behavior of the fullerene family on various kinds of semiconductor substrates, and also provides vigorous support for the development of fullerene electrical devices in the future.

Keywords: 2D materials; fullerene; molecular self-assembly process; scanning tunneling microscopy.