Massive Surface Reshaping Mediated by Metal-Organic Complexes

We present a unique remodeling of flat copper terraces induced by organic molecules. In particular, we show how metalphthalocyanines (MPc, M = Zn and Cu) tailor the formation of regular arrays of Cu nanostripes on its (110) surface. The MPc mediated reshaping of Cu(110) terraces is found to involve a massive reorganization of Cu adatoms, at variance with the conventional changes of metal reconstructions upon molecular adsorption observed so far. By combining experimental and theoretical surface science techniques, we reveal the key role played by the metal atom at the molecular center in reshaping the terrace structure. Moreover, we demonstrate that extra Cu adatoms surrounding the molecules stabilize the molecular decoration of the Cu nanostripes. The massive surface reshaping is thus due to molecular mediated unidirectional blocking of adatom surface diffusion followed by adatom capture and accumulation.