Magic C-60 islands forming due to moire interference between islands and substrate

摘要

Recently proposed mechanism for self-organized formation of magic islands [Nat.Comm. 4(2013)1679] has received a new experimental confirmation. According to this mechanism, self-assembly is mediated by the moire interference between an island and underlying substrate lattice. It was first detected at C-60 island growth on In-adsorbed Si(111)root 3 x root 3-Au surface. Changing In adsorbate for TI results in lowering the corrugations of the surface potential relief due to a greater surface metallization. This allows formation of the C-60 arrays with novel moire pattern. As a result, a new set of magic C-60 islands is formed on TI-adsorbed Au/Si(111) surface differing from that observed on In-adsorbed surface. For example, the 19-C-60 magic island which has a non-compact boomerang shape on In-adsorbed Au/Si(111) surfaces adopts a shape of a regular hexagon on TI-adsorbed surface. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.