Trapping single polar molecules in SiC nanomesh via out-of-plane dipoles

The self-assembly of nonplanar chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) molecules as well-ordered single-molecule dipole arrays on the silicon carbide (SiC) nanomesh substrate was investigated using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. ClAlPc exclusively adsorbs in the center of the SiC nanomesh holes with its inherent dipole (from Cl to Al) pointing toward the substrate. The dipole can be inverted by a positively biased tip with a threshold tip voltage of 3.3 V. We deduce that the interaction between the intrinsic dipole of ClAlPc and the periodic out-of-plane component of the surface dipole on the SiC nanomesh plays a significant role in the dipole array formation.