Tailoring the growth of p-6P nanofibres using ultrathin Au layers: an organic-metal-dielectric model system

The influence of ultrathin An cluster films on the growth of para-hexaphenyl (p-6P) fibres is investigated. Whereas p-6P at elevated temperatures forms long, mutually parallel fibres on plain mica, these fibres become shorter but taller on Au covered mica, up to a Au film thickness of approximately 8 nm. The degree to which fibres are mutually parallel decreases with increasing Au thickness. For thicker Au films the length of the fibres increases again, and their morphology changes from flat to faceted; for Au film thicknesses above 20 nm, fibre networks are formed. The spectroscopic properties of the fibres are not modified by the Au layer, enabling independent control of the fibre morphology by means of the intermediate metallic layer.