Scanning tunneling microscope study of iron(II) phthalocyanine growth on metals and insulating surfaces

Abstract

The growth behavior of iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules on Cu(1 1 1) and on NaCl/Cu(1 1 1) surfaces has been studied by a variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Upon deposition at room temperature, FePc molecules with different adsorption configurations form short-ranged ordered domains on Cu(1 1 1). In the second FePc monolayer long-range ordering is observed. Molecule–molecule and molecule–substrate interactions are discussed in comparison with previous findings for FePc on Au(1 1 1). In order to reduce molecule–substrate interaction insulating NaCl layers are introduced. FePc molecules adsorb on Cl − anion sites but show high mobility during preparation. Our results provide detailed insight into the growth behavior of organic molecules on metallic and insulating surfaces.