The adsorption with chiral structure of fluorene-1-carboxylic acid molecules on Cu(1 1 0) surface

Deposition of fluorene-1-carboxylic acid molecules on Cu(1 1 0) surface has been investigated by LEED and STM. By saturating the surface with one monolayer, a (4 × 4) pg ordered structure is formed judged from the LEED pattern. STM image shows that the ordered structure is formed in small locally areas. STM results indicate that the molecular aromatic plane of FC-1 is parallel to the substrate. First-principle calculations determined the favorable adsorption site. The adsorption structure presents a chiral property. Two FC-1 molecules, in one unit cell, have their carboxylic groups bonded in identical geometry and equivalent orientation, but with opposite chirality.