Electronic Structure and Band Gap of Fullerenes on Tungsten Surfaces: Transition from a Semiconductor to a Metal Triggered by Annealing.

Title Electronic Structure and Band Gap of Fullerenes on Tungsten Surfaces: Transition from a Semiconductor to a Metal Triggered by Annealing.
Authors E. Monazami; J.B. McClimon; J. Rondinelli; P. Reinke
Journal ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
DOI
Abstract

The understanding and control of molecule-metal interfaces is critical to the performance of molecular electronics and photovoltaics devices. We present a study of the interface between C60 and W, which is a carbide-forming transition metal. The complex solid-state reaction at the interface can be exploited to adjust the electronic properties of the molecule layer. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy measurements demonstrate the progression of this reaction from wide band gap (>2.5 eV) to metallic molecular surface during annealing from 300 to 800 K. Differential conduction maps with 10(4) scanning tunneling spectra are used to quantify the transition in the density of states and the reduction of the band gap during annealing with nanometer spatial resolution. The electronic transition is spatially homogeneous, and the surface band gap can therefore be adjusted by a targeted annealing step. The modified molecules, which we call nanospheres, are quite resistant to ripening and coalescence, unlike any other metallic nanoparticle of the same size. Densely packed C60 and isolated C60 molecules show the same transition in electronic structure, which confirms that the transformation is controlled by the reaction at the C60-W interface. Density functional theory calculations are used to develop possible reaction pathways in agreement with experimentally observed electronic structure modulation. Control of the band gap by the choice of annealing temperature is a unique route to tailoring molecular-layer electronic properties.

Citation E. Monazami; J.B. McClimon; J. Rondinelli; P. Reinke.Electronic Structure and Band Gap of Fullerenes on Tungsten Surfaces: Transition from a Semiconductor to a Metal Triggered by Annealing.. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8(50):3485434862. doi:

Related Elements

Tungsten

See more Tungsten products. Tungsten (atomic symbol: W, atomic number: 74) is a Block D, Group 6, Period 6 element with an atomic weight of 183.84. The number of electrons in each of tungsten's shells is [2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2] and its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d4 6s2. Tungsten Bohr ModelThe tungsten atom has a radius of 139 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 210 pm. Tungsten was discovered by Torbern Bergman in 1781 and first isolated by Juan José Elhuyar and Fausto Elhuyar in 1783. In its elemental form, tungsten has a grayish white, lustrous appearance. Elemental TungstenTungsten has the highest melting point of all the metallic elements and a density comparable to that or uranium or gold and about 1.7 times that of lead. Tungsten alloys are often used to make filaments and targets of x-ray tubes. It is found in the minerals scheelite (CaWO4) and wolframite [(Fe,Mn)WO4]. In reference to its density, Tungsten gets its name from the Swedish words tung and sten, meaning heavy stone.

Carbon

See more Carbon products. Carbon (atomic symbol: C, atomic number: 6) is a Block P, Group 14, Period 2 element. Carbon Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of Carbon's shells is 2, 4 and its electron configuration is [He]2s2 2p2. In its elemental form, carbon can take various physical forms (known as allotropes) based on the type of bonds between carbon atoms; the most well known allotropes are diamond, graphite, amorphous carbon, glassy carbon, and nanostructured forms such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and nanofibers . Carbon is at the same time one of the softest (as graphite) and hardest (as diamond) materials found in nature. It is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, and the fourth most abundant element (by mass) in the universe after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. Carbon was discovered by the Egyptians and Sumerians circa 3750 BC. It was first recognized as an element by Antoine Lavoisier in 1789.

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