On-surface products from de-fluorination of C₆₀F₄₈ on Ag(111): C₆₀, C₆₀F and silver fluoride formation

By employing diverse surface sensitive synchrotron radiation spectroscopies we demonstrate that the fluorine content of initial C₆₀F₄₈ deposited at room temperature on Ag(111) varies with molecular coverage. At the very early stages of deposition, C₆₀F₄₈ fully de-fluorinates and transforms into C₆₀. Strong indications of silver fluoride formation are provided. The chemical footprint of fluorinated fullerenes emerges at relatively low molecular coverage indicating that the degree of fullerene de-fluorination decreases (from total to partial de-fluorination) as molecules are deposited. Full de-fluorination stops well before the substrate surface is completely covered by fullerenes. At the molecular level, the fluorine loss observed by spectroscopic techniques is supported by scanning tunneling microscopy imaging. Both molecules and metal surface are importantly involved in the process.