title: A Ru-Ru pair housed in ruthenium phthalocyanine: the role of a "cage" architecture in the molecule coupling with the Ag(111) surface.
abstract: A number of studies have investigated the properties of monomeric and double-decker phthalocyanines (Pcs) adsorbed on metal surfaces, in view of applications in spintronics devices. In a combined experimental and theoretical study, we consider here a different member of the Pcs family, the (RuPc)2dimer, whose structure is characterized by two paired up magnetic centers embedded in a double-decker architecture. For (RuPc)2on Ag(111), we show that this architecture works as a preserving cage by shielding the Ru-Ru pair from a direct interaction with the surface atoms. In fact, while noticeable surface-to-molecule charge transfer occurs with the ensuing quenching of the molecular magnetic moment, such phenomena occur here in the absence of a direct Ru-Ag coupling or structural rearrangement, at variance with other Pcs and thanks to the above shielding effect. These unique properties of the (RuPc)2architecture are expected to permit an easy control of the surface-to-molecule charge-transfer process as well as of the molecular magnetic properties, thus making the (RuPc)2dimer a significant paradigm for innovative "cage" structures as well as a promising candidate for applications in spintronics nano or single-molecule devices.
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4276-7501
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alippi
authors.affiliation: CNR-IOM, Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, c/o Area Science Park SS14 - km 163.5, I-34129 Trieste, Italy. valeria.lanzilotto@physics.uu.se and Department of Physics, Trieste University, via Valerio 2, I-34127 Trieste, Italy and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, BOX-516, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lanzilotto
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pennesi
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filippone
authors.affiliation: CNR-IOM, Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, c/o Area Science Park SS14 - km 163.5, I-34129 Trieste, Italy. valeria.lanzilotto@physics.uu.se.
authors.forename: Albano
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8429-1727
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossaro
authors.affiliation: CNR-IOM, Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, c/o Area Science Park SS14 - km 163.5, I-34129 Trieste, Italy. valeria.lanzilotto@physics.uu.se.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-2080
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdini
authors.affiliation: CNR-IOM, Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, c/o Area Science Park SS14 - km 163.5, I-34129 Trieste, Italy. valeria.lanzilotto@physics.uu.se and Department of Physics, Trieste University, via Valerio 2, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morgante
authors.affiliation: CNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria, Km 29.300, I-00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy. paola.alippi@ism.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amore Bonapasta