One-dimensional organic nanostructures: A novel approach based on the selective adsorption of organic molecules on silicon nanowires

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to investigate the formation of one-dimensional organic nanostructures by chemisorption of specific molecules on silicon nanowires. STM data demonstrate that depending on the molecular functional groups, the molecules adsorb either randomly on the substrate or preferentially on the nanowires. In the latter case, chemisorption of suitable organic molecules on the nanowires leads to a well-defined one-dimensional aggregation and changes the metallic character of the nanowires to a semi-conducting one.