Search

The adsorption properties of individual fullerene molecules at room-temperature have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. Statistical analysis of the images demonstrates that fullerene molecules prefer to adsorb on five specific sites: corner hole, the middle of the faulted and unfaulted parts, and the top of the rest atoms within the faulted and unfaulted parts. High-resolution images of individual fullerene molecules on each of the adsorption sites show distinct intramolecular structures. By combining these internal fine structures with theoretical simulations, the molecular orientations at each of the adsorption sites can be unambiguously determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of Ag atoms on the adsorption statuses of individual fullerene molecules on Si surface at room temperature has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. For a fullerene molecule, its adsorption status can be switched from one initial state into multiple final states by attaching Ag atoms onto various parts of the molecule. Once silver atoms are removed from the adsorption sites by a STM tip, the adsorption statuses of the fullerene molecules are recovered as that for fullerene molecules on a bare Si surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]