2D/3D Metallic Nano-objects Self-Organized in an Organic Molecular Thin Film

Abstract

We present the fabrication and investigation of the properties of nanocomposite structures consisting of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) metallic nano-objects self-organized on the surface and inside of organic molecular thin-film copper tetrafluorophthalocyanine (CuPcF4). Metallic atoms, deposited under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions onto the organic ultrathin film, diffuse along the surface and self-assemble into a system of 2D metallic overlayers. At the same time, the majority of the metal atoms diffuse into the organic matrix and self-organize into 3D nanoparticles (NPs) in a well-defined manner. The evolution of the morphology and electronic properties of such structures as a function of nominal metal content is studied under UHV conditions using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) techniques. Using HR-TEM, we have observed the periodicity of atomic planes of individual silver NPs. The steady formation of agglomerates from individual single nanocrystallites with intercrystallite boundaries is observed as well. PES reveals generally weak chemical interactions between silver and the organic matrix and n-doping of CuPcF4 at the initial stages of silver deposition, which is associated with charge transfer from the 2D wetting layer on the basis of core-level spectra shift analysis.

Growth of Corrole Films from Solution: A Nanometer-Scale Study at the Real Solid–Liquid Interface

“…The growth of organic materials with a control at the molecular and atomic levels represents a compelling and urgent necessity for building innovative performing and miniaturized devices. − Extraordinary results have been obtained in vacuum and ultrahigh vacuum thanks to the realization of clean and accurate deposition or growth processes and the application of a plethora of techniques and investigational spectroscopies. − Nevertheless, both the application of organic compounds and the increasing demand for cost-effective, low-energy consumption augment the interest in the deposition of layers from the liquid phase, taking advantage of the ordered aggregation of molecular precursors. − On the other hand, only sparse examples of studies on this topic conducted at the nanometer scale and in the liquid phase have been reported, also due to a small number of techniques (such as scanning probe techniques − and optics − ) able to monitor in situ and in real time the solid/liquid interface of a sample immersed in a solution (i.e., to explore this system under realistic conditions).…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Self-Assembly Properties of a New Copper-Phthalocyanine Core Acrylate Block Copolymer

“…Various approaches have been explored in order to control the self-organization of Pc molecules to form well-defined nano-objects. One such approach is the incorporation of these molecules in amphiphilic polymers [17][18][19][20].…”