Linear nanostructure formation of aldehydes by self-directed growth on hydrogen-terminated silicon(100).
The self-directed growth of organic molecules on silicon surfaces allows for the rapid, parallel production of hybrid organic-silicon nanostructures. In this work, the formation of benzaldehyde- and acetaldehyde-derived nanostructures on hydrogen-terminated H-Si(100)-2x1 surface is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum and by quantum mechanical methods. The reaction is a radical-mediated process that binds the aldehydes, through a strong Si-O covalent bond, to the surface. The aldehyde nanostructures are generally composed of double lines of molecules. Two mechanisms that lead to double line growth are elucidated.
National Institute for Nanotechnology, National Research Council of Canada, W6-010 ECERF, 9107 116th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2V4.
Jason L
JL
Pitters
Iana
I
Dogel
Gino A
GA
DiLabio
Robert A
RA
Wolkow