Self-assembled molecular corrals on a semiconductor surface

S Dobrin, K Harikumar, R Jones, N Li, I McNab, J Polanyi, Peter Sloan, Z Waqar, J Yang, S Ayissi, W A Hofer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Nano-corrals for capturing surface electrons are of interest in molecular electronics. Here we show that haloalkane molecules, e.g., 1-chlorododecane, physisorbed on Si(111)-(7 · 7) self-assemble to form dimers stable to 100 C which corral silicon adatoms. Corral size is shown to be governed by the haloalkane chain-length. Spectroscopic and theoretical evidence shows that the haloalkane dimer induces electron transfer to the corralled adatom, shifting its energy levels by 1 eV. Isolation of a labile pre-cursor points to a model for corral formation which combines mobility with immobility; monomers diffusing in a mobile vertical state meet and convert to the immobile horizontal dimers constituting the corrals.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-47
Number of pages5
JournalSurface Science
Volume600
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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