Self-assembly of C60 fullerenes on quasi-one-dimensional Si(111)4 × 1-In surface

► C60 adsorbed onto Si(111)4×1-In surface self-assembly into linear chains of up to eight fullerenes. ► C60 occupy off-centered positions on In-atom rows. ► There are two bonding states of C60 on Si(111)4×1-In surface. ► Transition to the more tight state takes place above 150 °C and is accompanied by In-atom displacement. ► In the tight state, C60 is fixed in a single orientation with a hexagon pointing upward.