STM study of C60 overlayers on Pt(111) surfaces

We present a scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) characterization of C60 layers grown on a Pt(111) substrate at room temperature. Fullerenes diffuse on the surface until finding steps in which they remain anchored forming one-dimensional molecular lines. These rows are seed for the growth of ordered islands, which expand on the Pt atomic terraces with two different orientations: either parallel to main crystallographic direction of the substrate, or rotated by 30°. For coverages near to the monolayer a second layer appears before completing the first one.

► Scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) characterization of C60 adlayers on Pt(111).
► Fullerenes form one-dimensional molecular lines at the steps.
► From the steps, ordered islands grow with two different orientations: parallel or with 30° respect to the platinum crystallographic direction.
► A second layer appears before completing the first one.