Surface structure of MX-Chains studied by atomic force microscopy

The surfaces of mixed-valence halogen-bridged transition metal linear chain compounds [Pt(en)2][Pt(en)]2(X1−yX1y)2](ClO4)4 (X, X1 = Cl, Br, or I; en = C2H8N2; y = 0.0 – 1.0) were examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images are consistent with the surfaces expected from the bulk crystal structure. The surface unit cell parameters of the images correspond to the lattice constants of the bulk crystals. The patterns of the atomic-scale AFM images are dominated by the most protruded H atoms of the en ligands and the most protruded O atoms of the ClO4− anions.