Observation and manipulation of hexa-adamantyl-hexa-benzocoronene molecules by low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy

Large molecules made of a central hexa-adamantyl-hexa-benzocoronene plateau surrounded by six adamantyl groups have been investigated by low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy coupled with image calculations and molecular mechanics. The structure of large self-assembled domains reveals that the intermolecular interactions between adamantyl peripheral groups dominate film growth. At very low coverage, the molecules can exhibit a certain instability for negative bias voltages which induces a partial rotation. Manipulations of single objects using the STM tip are used to create small clusters of two or three molecules. The formed structures can be obtained and manipulated provided that the flexible adamantyl moieties of neighbouring molecules are brought in close contact promoting a robust mechanical anchoring.