STM Study of J-Aggregate Adsorbed on Halogenated Silver Surface

Abstract

Direct STEM imaging of organic molecular assemblies is still challenging in many respects. Successful imaging rests particularly upon whether or not a reasonable imaging mechanism is available for the given sample. Along with a brief review of the fundamental principles of STM, introduced as an interesting example is the imaging of two-dimensional cyanine dye aggregates self-assmbled on a halidecovered Ag (111) film. The resolved molecular arrangements are consistent with the molecular exciton theory, and both the conditions for successful imaging and the observed image strutures suggest that the electronic states of dye molecules are intimately involved in the imaging mechanism.