STM-induced light emission from the surface of H2TBP porphyrin/PFP porphyrin/Cu(1 0 0)

Molecular fluorescence from the surface of H2TBP porphyrin (H2TBPP) monolayer on the top of PFP porphyrin (PFPP) multilayers on Cu(1 0 0) substrate is studied by an ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscope. H2TBPP molecular luminescence spectra are well defined and in perfect matching with conventional photoluminescence spectra excited from the corresponding bulk molecule. The electronic states of H2TBPP monolayer are effectively decoupled from the metal surface by controlling the thickness of PFPP multilayers in a nanoscale regime. The excitation mechanism is probably attributed to the hot electron injection. These results provide a new way for the development of nanoscale molecular light source and spectroscopy.