Molecular aggregation within self-ordered monolayers

The monolayer growth of pyrimido-pentaphenylbenzene (NPB) on Cu(111) is investigated by means of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (LT-STM). The pyrimidine side group gives rise to a pronounced resonant tunneling state and, furthermore, affects molecular self-ordering. Different molecular aggregates are formed inside the hexagonal closed packed monolayer. A structure model for the monolayer is proposed and the temperature dependence of this self-ordering process is investigated by varying the preparation temperature between 270 and 370 K. The intermolecular bonding of the aggregates is demonstrated by STM manipulation experiments. Moreover, different aggregations of the molecules induce characteristic energy shifts in the resonant tunneling state, as revealed by means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.