Influence of the morphology on the electronic structure of Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene thin films

Ultrathin films of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC), prepared in ultrahigh vacuum by sublimation and studied using a combination of atomic force microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and photoelectron spectroscopy were interpreted with the help of results of quantum chemical calculations. The important role of the nature of the surface of the substrate as well as the effect of postdeposition annealing on the morphology and the subsequent electronic structure were studied. In particular, on the (0001) surfaces of highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) or molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), there is a high degree of molecular order induced by the crystal structure of the substrate surface. When deposited at room temperature on HOPG, the molecules are epitaxially ordered, while crystals from the epitaxially ordered films nucleate and grow during heating. On oxidized silicon(001) or polycrystalline gold surfaces, only totally disordered molecular solid films are formed. The epitaxial films assume a layered structure and exhibit a graphite-like electronic structure. In particular, the relationship between electronic structure and topology is discussed. The results of these studies indicate methods for the preparation of the crystalline seeds to molecular wires.