Spin-state switching of indium-phthalocyanine on Pb(100)

Indium(iii) phthalocyanine chloride deposited on Pb(100) is studied by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. The Cl ions are dissociated and the remaining indium phthalocyanine (InPc) is observed in two states with the metal ion pointing to (↓) or away (↑) from the substrate. Isolated molecules and islands with a superstructure and a unit cell of four inequivalent molecules, namely one InPc↑ and three InPc↓ in different sites, are observed. Using atomic resolution images of the substrate the adsorption sites and azimuthal orientation of InPc are determined and a structure model is proposed. Conductance spectra of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital reveal differences that depend on the adsorption sites and azimuthal orientations of the complexes. Only InPc↑ molecules exhibit Shiba states, indicating the presence of a localized spin. By electron extraction isolated complexes as well as molecules in islands are converted from InPc↑ to InPc↓. At the same time, their spin state changes, as indicated by the disappearance of the Shiba states.