Metallic Rb4C60 and Rb5C60 on the top layer of C60 single crystal

Photoemission studies reveal the existences of metallic Rb₄C₆₀ and Rb₅C₆₀ surface phases on the top layer of C₆₀ single crystal. After Rb₃C₆₀ thin film with thickness of nanometers has formed on the (1 1 1) surface layers of the C₆₀ single crystal, the excess deposition of Rb atoms do not induce the bulk-like face-centered cubic to body-centered tetragonal or body-centered cubic structure transitions at room temperature. The large size of C₆₀ molecule offers the surface vacancies for the formation of Rb₄C₆₀ and Rb₅C₆₀ monolayer that is further verified by Rb 3d core-level photoemission measurements. Valence band photoemission results exhibit the surface phases are metallic.