Ordering of a prototypical conjugated molecular system during monolayer growth on the (1x2)-Au(110) surface

The UHV deposition of alpha-hexathiophene (T6) oligomers on the 1x2 reconstructed Au(110) surface has been studied in situ. The evolution of the surface morphology during the deposition is followed by the He atom scattering method. A proliferation of Au monoatomic steps is observed during deposition, indicating a strong interaction between Au substrate and T6 molecules. The build-up of a well-ordered single monolayer is obtained with a rectangular unit cell. Its dimensions indicate that T6 molecules lie on the surface, aligned along the rows of close-packed Au atoms.