Long-range-ordered pentacene chains assembled on the Cu(119) vicinal surface

Pentacene (C22H14), deposited on the Cu(119) vicinal surface, forms ordered molecular chains, with the long molecular axis aligned along the step direction. Phase correlation between neighboring chains gives rise to large domains, observed in the low-energy electron-diffraction (LEED) pattern. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images show that the molecules are laying flat on the copper terraces with the molecular axis aligned along the steps, hence, facing the short side of one another. High-resolution STM data suggest that the molecules adsorb, locating the central benzene ring on the hollow site of the Cu(001) surface.