Experimental molecular adsorption: electronic buffer effect of germanene on Al(1 1 1). (2nd May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Massara, Natalia; Marjaoui, Adil; Stephan, Regis; Hanf, Marie-Christine; Derivaz, Mickael; Dentel, Didier; Hajjar-Garreau, Samar; Mehdaoui, Ahmed; Diani, Mustapha; Sonnet, Philippe; Pirri, Carmelo
• Is Part Of: 2D materials. Volume 6:Number 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-05-02
• Subjects: germanene -- 2D materials -- DFT calculations -- scanning tunneling microscopy -- molecular adsorption -- C60 molecule; Graphene -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; 620.115
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1583/ab1601
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1583

Abstract

Abstract: The interaction of organic C 60 molecules with germanene grown on Al(1 1 1) is investigated by experimental tools and calculations. By mean of scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that a single but disordered C 60 layer is formed upon deposition in the monolayer range. Density functional theory calculations indicate that van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are present between the C 60 layer and the germanene, without formation of covalent bond. Moreover, the C 60 molecules are adsorbed without major crystallographic and charge modifications at the interface between germanene and the Al(1 1 1) substrate. The predicted charge transfer from the Al(1 1 1) substrate to the C 60 molecules is very small, which means that the germanene layer acts as an electronic buffer between the highly electron attractor C 60 molecules and the large electron reservoir Al(1 1 1). This leaves the C 60 layer quite uncharged, and so preserves its electron attractor properties for further layers grown on it, in the design of new molecular sensors.