Photoemission study of pristine and potassium intercalated benzylic amide catenane films

In this paper we report a photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS) study of films of a benzylic amide [2]catenane on Au(1 1 1). We show that this molecule retains its molecular integrity during sublimation and that it chemisorbs on the metal surface. Potassium intercalation modifies the electronic structure of the films. We have observed a reduction of its amide functions and a modification of the charge density of the aromatic rings. The creation of polaron-like states in the gap of the neutral catenane and a decrease in the catenane work function of 0.8 eV have been demonstrated.