Observations of image contrast and dimerization of decacycleneby low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy

Low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy studies revealed both monomer and dimer forms of decacyclene (DC) on atomically clean Cu(100) and Cu(111). The observed image contrast in DC is strongly bias dependent and also influenced by tip modifications. Alternatively, dimers appear solely as protrusions and are nearly bias independent. We provide evidence of both dimer formation and dissociation and suggest that two DC molecules stack by aligning their molecular planes in a parallel fashion with respect to the surface. Dimers and their surface-dependent properties demonstrate the interplay between surface-molecule and molecule-molecule interactions.