C-60 decomposition on some transition metal and semiconductor surfaces

A deep understanding of fullerene-surface interaction regularities is a key to widespread fullerene use. We have studied C-60 molecular adsorption, th ermal transformation and initial film growth stages on four transition meta ls: W, Mo, Re and Ir in the wide temperature range 300-2000K. Experiments w ere performed in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) at P < 10(-9) Torr by high resolut ion Auger electron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and thermal desorp tion mass-spectrometry using an absolutely calibrated flux of the depositin g C-60 molecules.