Island shape and electronic structure in diindenoperylene thin films deposited on Au(110) single crystals.

We have investigated diindenoperylene (DIP) thin films deposited on Au(110) single crystals, by using a multi-technique approach based on X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPES), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). DIP molecules are physisorbed on gold, with image-charge screening playing the major role as an interface phenomenon. DIP thin films show Stranski-Krastanov growth mode and the structural herringbone arrangement mimics the arrangement found in DIP single crystals. These results are common with the (100) and (111) gold substrate geometries. On the contrary, the island aggregation is substrate geometry-dependent. This paves the way to exploit the degree of anisotropy in different lattice geometries as a tool for molecular patterning of inorganic surfaces, keeping the electronic structure preserved.

Intercorrelation of Electronic, Structural, and Morphological Properties in Nanorods of 2,3,9,10-Tetrafluoropentacene.

We evidence the intercorrelation of electronic, structural, and morphological properties in nanorods of a substituted fluorine-based pentacene, 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoropentacene, deposited on gold single crystals by using photoemission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy investigations. Our investigations show changes in the XPS spectroscopy lines, and NEXAFS features correlate with the specific structure of the assemblies and their morphology. Consequently, the chemical structure affects not only the molecular electronic structure and the way the molecules assemble in a film but also the film morphology leading to specific thin film electronic properties.

Paramagnetic nitronyl nitroxide radicals on Al2O3(11-20) single crystals: nanoscale assembly, morphology, electronic structure, and paramagnetic character toward future applications.

Aiming at future technological applications, we describe the interface and the thin film processes of a pyrene-substituted nitronyl nitroxide radical deposited on Al2O3(11-20) single crystals. Electronic properties, chemical environment at the interface, and morphology of the thin films have been investigated by a multitechnique approach. Spectroscopic and morphologic analyses indicate a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode and weak physisorption of the molecules on the surface. The deposition does not affect the paramagnetic character of the molecules. The results presented in this paper show not only that the investigated system is a promising candidate as a model for understanding thin film processes in purely organic-based magnets, but its characteristics are worth its future use in electronics, because the radical character of the molecules is completely preserved in the thin films.