MORPHOLOGY OF C60 THIN-FILMS GROWN ON AG(001)

The morphology of C60 films deposited on a Ag(001) single crystal has been studied using an UHV-STM. The C60 molecules are arranged in a qua si-hexagonal c(6 x 4) structure, having the long axis along the (110) direction of the Ag surface. Due to the existence of two equivalent di rections, the C60 film presents different domains, separated by disloc ation lines. In each domain, peculiar structures of bright C60 molecul es have been resolved. These structures are due not to geometric effec ts, but to nonhomogeneous charge distributions and different chemical bonding with the Ag substrate. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.