Formation of an intercalation-like system by intercalation of C60 molecules underneath a graphite monolayer on Ni(111)

The intercalation of C60 molecules underneath a monolayer of graphite (MG) adsorbed on Ni(111) has been investigated by means of high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and angle resolved photoemission (PE). Deposition of a thick layer of C60 onto the MG/Ni(111) surface with subsequent annealing to 600–700 K leads to a partial intercalation of C60 molecules underneath MG, i.e. formation of areas with intercalated C60 molecules and some initial MG/Ni(111) areas without intercalation. A number of interesting features in the HREEL and PE spectra can be ascribed to the areas with intercalated C60: stiffening of the phonon modes up to values characteristic for pristine graphite, shift of the C60 valence band states towards lower binding energies, and the appearance of a sharp structure close to the Fermi level. All these features can be explained assuming a modification (weakening) of the ‘substrate–overlayer’ interaction caused by the intercalation of C60.