title: Preparation of monolayers of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets on HOPG, mica and silicon surfaces and characterization by means of non-contact AFM.
abstract: We report on the characterization of various salts of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ complexes prepared on substrates such as highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), mica, SiO2, and Si3N4. [MnIII6CrIII]3+ is a single-molecule magnet, i.e., a superparamagnetic molecule, with a blocking temperature around 2 K. The three positive charges of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ were electrically neutralized by use of various anions such as tetraphenylborate (BPh4-), lactate (C3H5O3-), or perchlorate (ClO4-). The molecule was prepared on the substrates out of solution using the droplet technique. The main subject of investigation was how the anions and substrates influence the emerging surface topology during and after the preparation. Regarding HOPG and SiO2, flat island-like and hemispheric-shaped structures were created. We observed a strong correlation between the electronic properties of the substrate and the analyzed structures, especially in the case of mica where we observed a gradient in the analyzed structures across the surface.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Surface Physics, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstrasse 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany. armin.brechling@uni-bielefeld.de.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gryzia
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Predatsch
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brechling
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoeke
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krickemeyer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Derks
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heinzmann