Article Title

Pentacene-based nanorods on Au(111) single crystals: Charge transfer, diffusion, and step-edge barriers

Authors

Sabine-Antonia Savu, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Sabine Abb, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Simon Schundelmeier, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Jonathan D. Saathoff, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
James M. Stevenson, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
Christina Tnshoff, Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Holger F. Bettinger, Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Paulette Clancy, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
M. Benedetta Casu, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Thomas Chassé, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany

Keywords

nanorod assembly, substituted pentacene, electronic structures/ processes/mechanisms, organic electronics, charge transfer, diffusion and step-edge barrier

Abstract

We investigate nanorod assemblies of two δ4-substituted pentacenes, namely (2,3-X2-9,10-Y2)-substituted pentacenes with X = Y = OCH3 (MOP) and with X = F, Y = OCH3 (MOPF), grown on Au(111) single crystals. By using a multi-technique approach based on ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption, we find evidence for charge transfer screening at the interface with gold. Furthermore, the MOP and MOPF nanorods show a rough surface morphology, which was investigated with atomic force microscopy. We use molecular simulation techniques to investigate the energetic barriers to diffusion and to traverse step-edges to estimate their influence on the nanorod roughness. We find that barriers to surface diffusion on a terrace are anisotropic and that their direction favors the formation of nanorods in these materials.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-013-0322-x

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Sabine-Antonia Savu,Sabine Abb,Simon Schundelmeier,Jonathan D. Saathoff,James M. Stevenson,Christina Tönshoff,Holger F. Bettinger,Paulette Clancy,M. Benedetta Casu,Thomas Chassé, Pentacene-based nanorods on Au(111) single crystals: Charge transfer, diffusion, and step-edge barriers. NanoRes.2013, 6(6): 449–459