Manipulation and adsorption-site mapping of single pentacene molecules on Cu(111)

Abstract

Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy at $7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ is used to study the adsorption and manipulation of single pentacene molecules on Cu(111). Controlled lateral translations of the molecule are performed along different high-symmetry directions of the substrate via attractive tip-molecule interactions. By means of a detailed site-mapping technique combining lateral manipulations of the molecule and of native substrate adatoms we determine the adsorptive configuration of the aromatic molecule. We find a planar adsorption geometry with the long molecular axis aligned with the close-packed Cu atom rows and the benzene units centered over hexagonal close-packed hollow sites of the substrate.