Controllable restructuring of a metal substrate: Tuning the surface morphology of gold

► Naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene, a promising optoelectronics material, was studied on Au. ► The molecule strongly perturbs the herringbone reconstruction of Au(111). ► Reversible Au atom exchange from the herringbone to the step edges is observed. ► Herringbone perturbation is dictated by both thermodynamic and kinetic factors. ► Au(111) restructuring is accompanied by a new equilibrium structure of the adlayer.