Orientation of AdsorbedC60Molecules Determined via X-Ray Photoelectron Diffraction

Abstract

Although significant insight into fullerene-substrate interactions has come from recent surface science studies, to date there has been no unambiguous way to determine the molecular orientation of adsorbed ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ molecules. We show that photoelectron diffraction patterns from monolayer ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ films are directly related to the intramolecular structure of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$. This allows for the first time a direct and unambiguous identification of the molecular orientation of the adsorbed fullerenes with respect to the substrate. A variety of molecular orientations is observed on different substrates.