Contact stability of C60 molecules on pure and doped (100) tungsten surface

The influence of the metal surface doping on the contact stability of adsorbed fullerene molecules at room temperature was observed for the first time. The C60 fullerene molecules decompose at room temperature both on a pure (100)W surface and on a tungsten surface containing carbide (WC), while the presence of a surface silicide of the same stoichiometry (WSi) produces passivation of the metal surface, thus preventing the fullerene molecules from decomposition.