Identification of linker molecules suited for deposition and study of Mn12 single molecule magnets on Au surfaces

The authors report on a scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy investigation of the possibility to influence the assembly of monolayers of Mn(12) single molecule magnets on a functionalized Au(111) surface by using flexible linker molecules. The results corroborate the general suitability of the deposition via ligand exchange reaction but, on the other hand, reveal the need for a compromise between conductivity and flexibility of the linker molecules. The results are discussed with respect to previous attempts [A. Naitabdi , Adv. Mater. (Weinheim, Ger.) 17, 1612 (2005)] to deposit ordered monolayers of Mn(12) molecules on Au(111). (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.