Stable Au(111)\nHexagonal Reconstruction Induced by\nPerchlorinated Nanographene Molecules

Surface reconstructions play a crucial role in surface\nscience\nbecause of their influence on the adsorption and arrangement of molecules\nor nanoparticles. On the Au(111) surface, the herringbone reconstruction\npresents favorable anchoring at the elbow sites, where the highest\nreactivity is found. In this work, we deposited large organic perchlorinated\nmolecules on a Au(111) surface via high-vacuum electrospray deposition.\nWith noncontact atomic force microscopy measurements at room temperature,\nwe studied the molecular structures formed on the surface before and\nafter annealing at different temperatures. We found that a supramolecular\nlayer is formed and that a hexagonal reconstruction of the Au(111)\nsurface is induced. After high-temperature annealing, the molecules\nare removed, but the hexagonal Au(111) surface reconstruction is preserved.\nWith the hexagonal Au(111) surface reconstruction, a periodic lattice\nof anchoring sites is formed.