Orientation of molecular interface dipole on metal surface investigated by noncontact atomic force microscopy

Abstract

We investigated the orientations of interface dipole moments of individual non-planar titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) molecules on Cu(111) and Cu(100) substrates using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and noncontact atomic force microscope (NC-AFM). The dipole moment orientations corresponding to two different configurations of individual TiOPc molecules were determined unambiguously. The correlation between the actual molecular structures and the corresponding STM topographies is proposed based on the sub-molecular resolution imaging and local contact potential difference (LCPD) measurements. Comparing with the pristine substrate, the LCPD shift due to the adsorption of non-planar molecule is dependent on the permanent molecular dipole, the charge transfer between the surface and the molecule, and the molecular configurations. This work would shed light on tailoring interfacial electronic properties and controlling local physical properties via polar molecule adsorption.