Preferential adsorption of C60 molecules to step edges of the Si(110)-16 × 2 single domain surface

Abstract

The Si(110) surface has a quite unique one-dimensional (1-D) stable structure with 16 × 2 reconstruction. Since the perfectly straight rows extend over micrometers, the 16 × 2 structure can be a superior template for 1-D nanostructures. However, controlled nanostructures using the Si(110)-16 × 2 template has not been fabricated yet. In this study, we have investigated the adsorption of C60 molecules on the Si(110)-16 × 2 surface at various surface temperatures, and found that the C 60 preferable adsorption sites are substantially changed, depending on the surface temperature. The obtained results indicate that the organic 1-D nanostructure can be fabricated on the Si(110)-16 × 2 surface by controlling the surface temperature.