Controlled formation of an axially bonded co-phthalocyanine dimer

Isolated Co-phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecules were moved on a monolayer of CoPc on Cu(111) using an STM tip. If placed almost on top of another, the CoPc molecule in the second layer locks in place and the STM image at negative bias changes substantially. Density functional theory calculations explain the nature of the bonding mode and the change in STM.