Growth Dynamics and Electron Reflectivity in Ultrathin Films of Chiral Heptahelicene on Metal (100) Surfaces Studied by Spin-Polarized Low Energy Electron Microscopy

Interaction of electrons with chiral matter gives rise to interesting phenomena such as the chirality-induced spin selectivity. The interdependence of reflectivity of spin-polarized low energy electrons and the absolute handedness of chiral molecules is investigated. First, the growth of homochiral films of helical aromatic hydrocarbons, so-called helicenes, on a Cu(100) surface is studied by means of low energy electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum. As soon as the coverage exceeds one monolayer, double-layer nucleation and growth is favored such that depletion in the first layer occurs. Spatially resolved work function measurements show that second-layer patches have a lower work function than first-layer areas. Reflectivity spectra of spin-polarized electrons do not show any asymmetry between homochiral films of the enantiomers. Laterally resolved work function measurements do not confirm work function differences such as those reported earlier for photoelectron studies of chiral peptide films on ferromagnetic substrates.

Automated summary

The interaction of electrons with chiral matter leads to interesting phenomena, such as chirality-induced spin selectivity. The study investigates the interdependence of reflectivity of spin-polarized low energy electrons and the absolute handedness of chiral molecules. Experiments on homochiral films of helical aromatic hydrocarbons reveal that when the coverage exceeds one monolayer, double-layer nucleation and growth occurs, with the second layer patches having a lower work function than the first layer areas. However, reflectivity spectra of spin-polarized electrons and laterally resolved work function measurements do not confirm differences as reported in earlier studies.