Scanning probe and transmission electron microscopy observations of cobalt naphthalocyanine molecules deposited onto a NaCl substrate

Abstract

We have used scanning probe microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the molecular orientation of cobalt naphthalocyanine (CoNc) vacuum deposited onto a NaCl substrate. Atomic force microscopy observations taken on CoNc deposited at room temperature reveal mostly amorphous grains with only few regions showing columnar structure. For CoNc films deposited at 250 °C, scanning tunneling microscopy and TEM showed domains of columnar structure arranged in various orientation. The periodicity of the columnar structure was determined to be 1.5 and 0.34 nm from x-ray and electron diffraction and indicates that the molecules are standing with their planes perpendicular to the underlying NaCl substrate surface.