Langmuir-Blodgett film formation of rare-earth metal di-, triphthalocyanine complexes and observation of their thin film by means of TEM and STM

Three different kinds of rare-earth metal phthalocyanine complexes (Pc₂LuH, Pc₃Gd₂, R₁₂ Pc₃Dy₂) were synthesized. Their ultra-thin films were prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Crystallites were observed in Langmuir film of Pc₃Gd₂ by means of transmission electron microscopy. The limiting molecular areas of the phthalocyanine derivatives on pure water increased in the order mono-, di- and triphthalocyanine, implying that these phthalocyanine molecules are stacked with a face-to-face orientation and edge-on to the water surface. By using scanning tunneling microscopy individual molecules of lutetium diphthalocyanine adsorbed on graphite surfaces were imaged for the first time.