Self-assembled magnetic nanostripes by organic patterning

Selective adsorption of Fe deposited on the organic molecule 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic-3, 4,9,10-dianhydride (PTCDA) is used to prepare a self assembled magnetic nanostripe structure on a vicinal Ag surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals that after PTCDA deposition on the Ag(10 8 7) surface a grating-like domain pattern is formed. It consists of alternating stripes of molecule-covered facets and uncovered (111) terraces. Fe adsorption takes place selectively on the molecule-covered stripes forming disk-shaped super-paramagnetic islands with a polar easy magnetization axis.