Electrochemical heteroepitaxial growth of molecular films on ordered substrates

The electrocrystallization of the organic superconductor bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene triiodide on a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite substrate was studied. Employing an electrochemical annealing process, in which the potential is cycled about the monolayer deposition potential, domain boundary defect formation during self-assembly of the separately growing domains is significantly reduced. Electrocrystallization is advantageous over vapor phase and molecular beam techniques because growth can be performed in solution under ambient conditions, allowing growth to be viewed in situ and in real time with an atomic force microscope.