Striped phase of mercaptoalkylferrocenes on Au(111) with a potential for nanoscale surface patterning

The molecular structure of submonolayer-coverage phases of 3-(thioacetyl)-propanoylferrocene and 5-ferrocenylpentanethiol in mixed layers with alkanethiols on Au(111) was resolved by scanning tunneling microscopy. The ferrocenes formed a striped surface phase, similar to the lying-down structures of alkanethiols, resulting in equally spaced rows of the ferrocene moieties. The obtained nanoscale lattice of functional groups on the surface offers an interesting potential for the patterning of small, periodic structures with precise distance control via a hydrocarbon spacer.