Site-Specific Geometric and Electronic Relaxations at Organic-Metal Interfaces

The correlation between the geometric and electronic structures of Zn-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and F(16)ZnPc on Cu(111) were studied by x-ray standing wave and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We found evidence for a distortion of the planar molecules upon adsorption, with the central Zn atom in the molecule protruding towards the substrate. This modifies the energy levels of both the molecule and the substrate, which appear as interface states. The site-specific geometric and electronic relaxations are an important effect for organic-metal interface energetics.