Self-assembly of C60 into highly ordered chain-like structures on HOPG observed at ambient conditions

The observation of chain-like structures of self-assembled C60 molecules on HOPG surfaces at room temperature in aerial atmosphere by means of scanning tunneling microscopy is reported. The ca. 2.5 nm center-to-center distance between two fullerene molecules is much larger than in the close-packed layered or film structures of C60 usually found on HOPG surfaces.