Templated growth of quasi-one dimensional molecular structures on Si(1 1 1)-(4 × 1)-In surface

Self-assembly of quasi-one dimensional pentacene molecular chains are realized on Si(1 1 1) surface using the atomic chain structures of the well-defined Si(1 1 1)-(4 × 1)-In surface reconstruction as templates. It is determined that the molecules are adsorbed between two neighboring In chains with their long axis perpendicular to the chain direction. The molecular chains are grown with periodicity commensurate with the lattice constant in the In atomic chains. Our positive results suggest that this approach might be applied to grow organic hetero-nanostructures on specifically decorated semiconductor surfaces.