Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of the valence band structures of polymerized thin films of C60 and La0.1C60

The electronic valence band structures of polymerized thin films of C₆₀ and La_0.1C₆₀ have been studied by using ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, the films have been characterized by using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The valence band of the C₆₀ film shows major peaks at binding energies of 2.6, 7.2, 10.3, and 12.6 eV. In the case of the doped film, we observe (i) an additional peak with a binding energy of 13.7 eV, (ii) evidence for redistribution of the density of electronic states due to hybridization between the 5d orbitals of La and the C₆₀ cage, and (iii) significantly higher density of the electronic states near the Fermi energy. The valence band spectra of the doped film are in good agreement with recent results of the density functional theory that support strong hybridization between the d-valence orbitals of La and the C₆₀ cage.     

X-ray photoelectron and X-ray Auger electron spectroscopy studies of heavy ion irradiated C60 films

The influence of 200 MeV Au ion irradiation on the surface properties of polycrystalline fullerene films has been investigated. The X-ray photoelectron and X-ray Auger electron spectroscopies are employed to study the ion-induced modification of the fullerene, near the surface region. The shift of C 1s core level and decrease in intensity of shake-up satellite were used to investigate the structural changes (like sp² to sp³ conversion) and reduction of π electrons, respectively, under heavy ion irradiation. Further, X-ray Auger electron spectroscopy was employed to investigate hybridization conversion qualitatively as a function of ion fluence.     

Gold cluster formation on C60 surfaces observed with scanning tunneling microscopy: Au-cluster beads and self-organized structures

The growth mechanism of Au-clusters on fullerene layers has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum at room temperature. The fullerene layers, which serve as substrates, are formed on a graphite surface and exhibit the typical combination of round and fractal shapes, and small sections of the original graphite substrate are exposed. The immobile Au-clusters are concentrated on the C₆₀ terminated surface section, and the original fullerene island structures are preserved. A preferential nucleation of Au-clusters is observed at the C₆₀-graphite edges while the C₆₀-C₆₀ edges remains undecorated. These Au-clusters are placed directly on the edge and shared by the graphite and fullerene layer. They form bead-like structures, which densely populate this edge, while the first layer C₆₀ islands are clearly depleted of Au-clusters. A roughness analysis of the fullerene surface indicates the presence of Au atoms (or very small clusters), which are embedded in the fullerene surface, and likely situated in the troughs in between the large molecules. These Au atoms are highly mobile and cannot be individually resolved at room temperature. The analysis of the spatial and size distributions of Au-clusters provides the basis for the development of a qualitative model, which describes the relevant surface processes in the Au-fullerene system. The simultaneous deposition of Au and fullerene on graphite leads to the formation of highly organized structures, in which Au-clusters are embedded in a ring of fullerene molecules with a constant width of about 4 nm. The mechanism for the formation of these structures is highly speculative at present and further experiments will be pursued in the near future. A comprehensive analysis of the Au-C₆₀ system is presented, which contributes to the advancement in our understanding of the metal-fullerene interaction and furthers the development of composite materials of interest in the synthesis of solar cells and metal contacts to organic materials.     

Manipulating Ge quantum dots on ultrathin SixGe1−x oxide films using scanning tunneling microscope tips

Germanium quantum dots (QDs) were extracted from ultrathin Si_xGe_1−x oxide films using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tips. The extraction was most efficiently performed at a positive sample bias voltage of +5.0 V. The tunneling current dependence of the extraction efficiency was explained by the electric field evaporation transfer mechanism for positive Ge ions from QDs to STM tips. Ge QDs (∼7 nm) were formed and isolated spatially by extracting the surrounding Ge QDs with an ultrahigh density of >10¹² cm⁻². Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of the spatially-isolated QDs revealed that QDs with an ultrahigh density are electrically-isolated from the adjacent dots.     

Geometrical effects of (N@C60)2, N@C60 and C59N endohedral fullerenes within single-walled carbon nanotube as peapods on electronic structure and magnetic properties

Design of spin labels inside for possible molecular spintronics, which contains of 1D spin chain filling single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with magnetic endohedral fullerenes of (¹⁴N@C₆₀)₂, ¹⁴N@C₆₀ and C₅₉N has been proposed. Electronic structure and magnetic properties of (¹⁴N@C₆₀)₂-SWCNT, ¹⁴N@C₆₀-SWCNT, ¹⁴N@C₆₀ and C₅₉N were characterized. Geometrical effect of (¹⁴N@C₆₀)₂, ¹⁴N@C₆₀ and C₅₉N within SWCNT on chemical shift of ¹³C, principal g-tensor, A-tensor in hfc of nitrogen atom and excited state transition was investigated by ab-initio density functional theory. The magnetic properties would be originated in the spin density distribution with π-electron interaction between encapsulated fullerenes and inner surface on SWCNT and extent of charge transfer.     

Nanoindentation on carbon thin films obtained from a C60 ion beam

Raman spectra, atomic force microscope (AFM) images, hardness (H) and Young's modulus (E) measurements were carried out in order to characterize carbon thin films obtained from a C₆₀ ion beam on silicon substrates at different deposition energies (from 100 up to 500 eV). The mechanical properties were studied via the nanoindentation technique. It has been observed by Raman spectroscopy and AFM that the microstructure presents significant changes for films deposited at energies close to 300 eV. However, these remarkable changes have not been noticeable on the mechanical properties: apparently H and E increase with higher deposition energy up to ∼11 and ∼116 GPa, respectively. These values are underestimated if the influence of the film roughness is not taken into account.     

Intramolecular structures of C60 and C84 molecules on Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7 surfaces by scanning tunneling microscopy

The intramolecular features of carbon 60 and carbon 84 molecules on Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7 surfaces were studied under a UHV-scanning tunneling microscope. Carbon molecules preferentially appear in faulted halves, rather than in unfaulted halves and corner holes; they are embedded in silicon substrates. The orientation and details of the structure of carbon molecules are determined by applying various sample biases to the silicon substrate. As compared with other fullerenes, a bright pentagonal ring with nebulous clusters which represents the cage structure is clearly observed on top of carbon 60 molecules. The bright stripes associated with partitioned curves which depict eight features of asymmetrical C₈₄ molecules are also investigated on Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7 surfaces. The orientations and possible configurations of C₆₀ and C₈₄ are considered in this work. The energy differences for various features of C₆₀ and C₈₄ molecules are estimated and discussed. The corresponding models with respect to each intramolecular feature are proposed and compared with recent theoretical calculation.     

Photocurrent analysis of organic photovoltaic cells based on CuPc/C60 with Alq3 as a buffer layer

The performance of an organic photovoltaic(OPV) cell based on copper phthalocyanine CuPc/C60 with a tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum(Alq3) buffer layer has been investigated.It was found that the power conversion efficiency of the device was 1.51% under illumination with an intensity of 100 mW/cm2,which was limited by a squareroot dependence of the photocurrent on voltage.The photocurrent-optical power density characteristics showed that the OPV cell had a significant space-charge limited photocurrent with a varied saturation voltage and a three quarters power dependence on optical power density.Also,the absorption spectrum was measured by a spectrophotometer,and the results showed that the additional Alq3 layer has a minor effect on photocurrent generation.