Ordering of of a prototypical conjugated molecular system during monolayer growth on the (1x2)Au(110) surface

The UHV deposition of α-hexathiophene (T6) oligomers on the 1 × 2 reconstructed Au(110) surface has been studied in situ. The evolution of the surface morphology during the deposition is followed by the He atom scattering method. A proliferation of Au monoatomic steps is observed during deposition, indicating a strong interaction between Au substrate and T6 molecules. The build-up of a well-ordered single monolayer is obtained with a rectangular unit cell. Its dimensions indicate that T6 molecules lie on the surface, aligned along the rows of close-packed Au atoms.