A novel method to fabricate a molecular quantum structure: Selective growth of C-60 on layered material heterostructures

We propose a new method to fabricate nano-scale devices consisting of C-60. C-60 molecules have a spherical shape with a diameter of 0.7 nm. It may be possible to consider each molecule as a quantum dot to fabricate a single- electron-tunneling device which will work at room temperature. In order to control the position of a C-60 molecule on a device substrate, we have deve loped a "selective growth" technique on layered material heterostructure su bstrates, which utilizes the difference in the nucleation process of C-60 m olecules on various kinds of layered materials. To clarify the selective,gr owth mechanism, the density of C-60 islands grown on different layered mate rial substrates was measured using atomic force microscopy. It has been sug gested that differences in the adsorption and diffusion energies of a C60 m olecule on layered materials influence the selective growth.