STM STUDY OF QUASI-1D C$_{\mathrm{\mathbf{60}}}$ NANOSTRUCTURES ON RIPPLED GRAPHENE

As two nanostructured allotropes of carbon, both graphene and fullerene exhibit fascinating physical properties and have numerous applications. A particularly interesting arrangement of C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ is the quasi-one-dimensional (1D) structure, an excellent model system and prototype of quantum confinement of electronic states. However, quasi-1D C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ nanostructures have been rarely realized experimentally due to their highly anisotropic configuration. I will report our experimental realization of quasi-1D C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ nanostructures on rippled graphene by utilizing the linear periodic potential in grapheme. Through careful control of the subtle balance between the linear periodic potential of rippled graphene and the C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ intermolecular interaction, we demonstrated that C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ molecules can be arranged into a novel 1D C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ chain structure with widths of two to three molecules. At a higher annealing temperature, the 1D chain structure transitions to a more compact hexagonal close packed quasi-1D stripe structure. This first experimental realization of 1D C$_{\mathrm{60}}$ structures on rippled graphene may pave a way for fabricating new C$_{\mathrm{60}}$/graphene hybrid structures for future applications in electronics, spintronics and quantum information.