Scanning tunneling microscopy study on the initial adsorption behavior of C-60 molecules on a reconstructed Au(111)-(23x root 3) surface at various temperatures

We have clarified the behavior of initial stage adsorption of C-60 molecules on a reconstructed Au(111)-(23 x root 3) surface at the three temperatures (295, similar to 80 and similar to 30 K) using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. At room temperature, C-60 molecules were found to adsorb only at the step edges and form one-dimensional C-60 nano structures. At similar to 80 K, C-60 molecules were found to adsorb on terraces, but were not stable. The nucleation and growth of two-dimensional C-60 clusters from the one-dimensional C-60 nuclei at step edges were clarified at this temperature. At similar to 30 K, C-60 molecules were found to be trapped, especially at the elbow positions of the herringbone structure of the Au(111) reconstructed surface, which have dislocations and protruded atoms.