Orientational configurations of the C60 molecules in the (2 x 2) superlattice on a solid C60 (111) surface at low temperature -: art. no. 085417

The orientational configurations of C-60 molecules on the surface of a multilayer C-60 island with a (111)-terminating plane were studied at 78 K by using a scanning tunneling microscope. A 2x2 superlattice, which resulted from the orientational ordering of the C-60 molecules, was observed. In each unit cell of the superlattice, one C-60 molecule with a three-lobe intramolecular pattern, and three C-60 molecules with dumbbell-like intramolecular patterns, were clearly resolved. In combination with the theoretical analysis and simulation, the orientational configurations of the C-60 molecules were determined.