High-Resolution Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Images of Molecular Overlayers Prepared by a New Molecular Beam Deposition Apparatus with Spray-Jet Technique

A deep look into the spray coating process in real-time-the crucial role of x-rays

Tailoring functional thin films and coating by rapid solvent-based processes is the basis for the fabrication of large scale high-end applications in nanotechnology. Due to solvent loss of the solution or dispersion inherent in the installation of functional thin films and multilayers the spraying and drying processes are strongly governed by non-equilibrium kinetics, often passing through transient states, until the final structure is installed. Therefore, the challenge is to observe the structural build-up during these coating processes in a spatially and time-resolved manner on multiple time and length scales, from the nanostructure to macroscopic length scales. During installation, the interaction of solid-fluid interfaces and between the different layers, the flow and evaporation themselves determine the structure of the coating. Advanced x-ray scattering methods open a powerful pathway for observing the involved processes in situ, from the spray to the coating, and allow for gaining deep insight in the nanostructuring processes. This review first provides an overview over these rapidly evolving methods, with main focus on functional coatings, organic photovoltaics and organic electronics. Secondly the role and decisive advantage of x-rays is outlined. Thirdly, focusing on spray deposition as a rapidly emerging method, recent advances in investigations of spray deposition of functional materials and devices via advanced x-ray scattering methods are presented.

Ultrahigh vacuum deposition of organic molecules by electrospray ionization

An electrospray apparatus for deposition of organic molecules on surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum is presented. The kinetic energy at the impact and mass to charge ratio of deposited ions can be controlled by an electrostatic quadrupole deflector and an in-line quadrupole mass spectrometer. With an ion funnel in the first two vacuum stages a high ion transmission is achieved. Experiments on porphyrin cations and deoxyribonucleic acid deposited on a Au(111) surface demonstrate the capabilities of the instrument.

Large molecules on surfaces: deposition and intramolecular STM manipulation by directional forces

Intramolecular manipulation of single molecules on a surface with a scanning tunnelling microscope enables the controlled modification of their structure and, consequently, their physical and chemical properties. This review presents examples of intramolecular manipulation experiments with rather large molecules, driven by directional, i.e. chemical or electrostatic, forces between tip and molecule. It is shown how various regimes of forces can be explored and characterized with one and the same manipulation of a single molecule by changing the tip-surface distance. Furthermore, different deposition techniques under ultrahigh vacuum conditions are discussed because the increasing functionality of such molecules can lead to fragmentation during the heating step, making their clean deposition difficult.

Electrospray ion beam deposition: soft-landing and fragmentation of functional molecules at solid surfaces

The ion beam deposition (IBD) of rhodamine dye molecules on solid surfaces in high vacuum is explored in order to characterize the possibility of fabricating molecular coatings or nanostructures from nonvolatile molecules. Molecular ion beams with a well-defined composition are deposited on silicon oxide surfaces with a controlled kinetic energy. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) are employed in order to characterize the sample with respect to coverage, homogeneity, and the fraction of intact landed ions (soft-landing ratio). We find that homogeneous rhodamine films of defined composition can be produced at energies of 2-100 eV. The coverage is found to be proportional to the ion dose. Soft-landing is observed for energies up to 35 eV.

Observation of Single Dinuclear Metal-Complex Molecules Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

We report a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) investigation of a dinuclear organometallic molecule, trans-[Cl(dppe)2Ru(C[triple bond]C)6Ru(dppe)2Cl] (Ru2), absorbed on a Au(111) surface; this molecule is a potential candidate for use in molecular quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) devices. Isolated Ru2 molecules were observed under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Submolecular structure was clearly discernible in the STM images, with a bright feature corresponding to each of the two Ru-ligand complexes within the Ru2 molecule. Rotation and translation of the Ru2 molecules were observed to be induced by the STM tip under some tunneling conditions.

Deposition of Thermally Unstable Molecules with the Spray-Jet Technique on Au(111) Surface

A porphyrin derivative (5,15-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin: trans-BETBPP) possessing chemically reactive substituents was successfully deposited on an Au(111) surface with a new molecular beam deposition system with use of a spray-jet technique (Spray-jet-MBD) without denaturing the molecules. The deposited molecular overlayers were observed at 77 K under ultrahigh vacuum condition by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). They form two different overlayer structures: a linear arrangement and a square lattice structure. In these overlayers, some molecules were accidentally moved by STM tip agitation, which indicates that the molecules were not polymerized during the deposition process.