Self-Assembled and Field-Induced 2D Structures of Glutaric Acid on Cu(110)

Abstract

We have investigated the adsorption structures of glutaric acid (HOOC-(CH2)(3)-COOH) on the Cu(110) surface as a function of coverage by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and reflection-absorption IR spectroscopy (RAIRS). Above a critical coverage, the molecules self-assemble on Cu(110) into three kinds of well-organized structures at room temperature. In contrast, glutaric acid molecules diffuse freely on Cu(110) below a critical coverage, and so cannot form ordered structures. Interestingly, we were able with STM to fabricate novel ordered structures of glutaric acid that cannot naturally occur at room temperature. We conclude that this new structure is created through field-induced assembly.