C60 Adsorbed on Ni(111) and Co(0001) Surfaces

Carbon-60 molecules were deposited on the fcc Ni(111) surface and, for the first time, the surface of bulk hcp Co(0001) and measured using low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. An adlayer with predominantly (4 x 4) domains is formed in each case. Other domains exemplify chiral epitaxial degeneracy. Annealing produces films with bright and dim molecules, with differing details per substrate. For C60 adsorption atop Ni(111), annealing results not only in vacancy formation beneath dim molecules but also in adatom nucleation below bright molecules.