Formation of dense nitroxide radical layers on the Au(1 1 1) substrate for ESN-STM measurement

Ultra high vacuum scanning tunnelling microscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to investigate ISL and TEMPOL piperidine nitroxides molecules deposited on the Au(1 1 1) substrate by the drop-cast method. The STM results suggest that both compounds form dense layers on Au(1 1 1) with high molecular mobility observed during imaging process. High resolution STM topographies of both compounds suggest a well-defined molecular order which can be ascribed to the presence of self-assembly mechanism during layers formation. The EPR results indicated that both compounds deposited on the Au(1 1 1) substrate were not reduced retaining their paramagnetic properties. The significance of the results obtained in the field of single spin detection is briefly outlined.