Chiral symmetry breaking in two-dimensional C60-ACA intermixed systems.

Xu, Bo; Tao, Chenggang; Cullen, William G; Reutt-Robey, Janice E; Williams, Ellen D · Nano Lett · 2005

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We have demonstrated a method for fabricating C60 overlayers with controlled spacing and chirality by reactive coadsorption with the aromatic molecule acridine-9-carboxylic acid (ACA). Structural control is achieved by the mismatched symmetries of the coadsorbates, as well as specific intermolecular and adsorbate-substrate interactions. The resulting supramolecular structure has a C60 period nearly three times as large as the normal C60 2D packing of 1 nm and exists in enantiopure domains with robust chirality.