Room temperature manipulation of the heterofullerene C59N on Si(100)-2x1

The absorption of the heterofullerene C59N on the Si(100)-2x1 surface has b een investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The molecules are adsorbed in monomer form in the trough s between silicon dimer rows. It is possible to use the tip of the STM to m anipulate the molecules parallel and perpendicular to the dimer rows in a c ontrolled fashion at room temperature. To determine the stability of the C5 9N monomer we have examined the response of pairs of molecules to STM manip ulation and found that the Si(100)-2x1 surface inhibits conversion to (C59N )(2) dimers. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)04034-6 ].