Dipole and charge effects of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine revealed by local work function measurements at sub-molecular level

Chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), an important optoelectronic molecule with a permanent dipole moment pointing from the Pc ring to the ending Cl atom, adsorbed on Au(111) in either Cl-up or Cl-down configuration. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy measurements revealed that at the centers of Cl-up and Cl-down molecules, the local work functions changed oppositely with respect to the Au(111) substrate. At their Pc lobes, however, the local work functions unanimously increased due to charging effect of the indole lobes in the ClAlPc molecule.