An STM and SXPS study of the interaction of C60 with the ten-fold surface of the Al72Ni11Co17 quasicrystal

The adsorption of C60 on the ten-fold surface of the decagonal Al–Ni–Co quasicrystal at room temperature has been investigated using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (SXPS). STM indicates disordered adsorption of intact C60 molecules on the surface up to a coverage of 1 ML, followed by the formation of a C60 multilayer. No step decoration is observed indicating that the molecules are immobile at room temperature. SXPS data of the Al 2p core level indicate a strong interaction of the C60 molecules with the Al atoms of the substrate in the sub-monolayer regime. Valence band data indicate that the C60 multilayer desorbs after annealing to 700 K leaving only the strongly bonded layer on the surface.