Interaction Channels Between Perfluorinated Iron Phthalocyanine and Cu(111) [in press]

The initial growth and interfacial electronic structure of perfluorinated iron phthalocyanine (FePcF16) on Cu(111) has been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and polarization dependent X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The planar molecules are oriented preferred flat lying on the substrate surface during the growth of the first layers while the tilt angle is increased in thicker films. A clear interaction at the interface is observed, involving both the central metal ion and the macrocycle. At monolayer coverages, the Fe2p spectrum shows an interface signal at 707.1 eV, while the C-N component of the C1s spectrum is distinctly shifted with respect to the thicker films. In addition, the nitrogen atom is involved in the complex interaction (including charge transfer), best visible in the change of the shape in the pi* resonance of N K edge spectra recorded from molecules at the interface.