Anisotropic film growth of iron-phthalocyanine on graphene on a Ni(111) substrate: Roles of molecule-substrate and intermolecular interaction

摘要

Growths of iron-phthalocyanine (FePc) and copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc) on graphene were experimentally investigated. Both FePc and CuPc molecules were found to preferentially nucleate aside of graphene wrinkles at initial deposition stage. CuPc prefers to nucleate into extended two-dimensional islands, while FePc always tends to grow into one-dimensional (1D) fiber-like islands at higher coverage stage. Orientations of the 1D FePc fibers are 30° off from each other. Nucleation behaviors of FePc on graphene/Ni(111) substrate are different to those on bare Ni(111) or graphene/Cu(111) substrate, evidencing the importance of coupling between graphene and the underlying Ni(111) substrate in the ordered growth of 1D FePc film.