Perylene diimide cysteine derivatives self-assembled onto (111) gold surface: Evidence of ordered aggregation

130Perylene diimide bearing cysteine residues can be strongly self-assembled onto [1 1 1] Au films by solution dipping. Films aggregation and order depend on the underneath Au surface morphology, variable according to deposition method and post-treatment. Isolated ordered pillars upstanding to the substrate plane are detected on globular Au surface, i.e. untreated films; contrariwise a π-stacked aggregation, unregistered normally to the film plane is observed in case of Au terraced surfaces, i.e. films subjected to high temperature thermal annealing. (see Figure)