In-plane X-ray diffraction study of the C-60/Au(110) p(6x5) reconstructed surface by direct methods

Adsorption of C-60 on the highly anisotropic Au(110) 1 x 2 reconstructed surface leads to an ordered quasi hexagonal 6 x 5 superstructure. This interfacial reconstruction has been investigated by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. Analysis of the in-plane data set reveals four C-60 molecules per (6 x 5) unit cell with a separation between them close to 10 Angstrom and a surface symmetry having a glide plane normal to [001]. The basic features characterizing the surface morphology of this reconstruction have been distinguished applying the 'direct methods' sum function. The arrangement of C-60 in the surface unit cell as well as the substrate distortion's map have been obtained from the analysis of the data at different resolutions which agree with STM measurements.