Control of π-π Interactions in Epitaxial Films of Platinum(II) Octaethyl Porphyrin

Epitaxial thin films of Pt(II) octaethyl porphyrin were grown on the cleavage surface of graphite and potassium hydrogen phthalate. The structure of the films was characterized by high resolution atomic force microscopy, showing that the two substrates template the growth of two layered phases with dramatic structural differences, strongly influencing pi-stacking of adjacent molecules. The impact of these characteristics on the electronic structure of the film phases is illustrated by a thorough optical investigation.