TiOx/Pt3Ti(111) Surface-Directed Formation of Electronically Responsive, Supramolecular Assemblies of Tungsten Oxide Clusters

Highly ordered titanium oxide films grown on the Pt3Ti(111) alloy surface have been utilized for the controlled immobilization and the tip-induced electric field triggered electronic manipulation of nanoscopic W3O9 clusters. Depending on the operating conditions two different stable oxide phases z’-TiOx and w’-TiOx were produced. These phases show a strong effect on the adsorption characteristics and reactivity of W3O9 clusters that are formed as a result of thermal evaporation of WO3 powder on the complex TiOx/Pt3Ti(111) surfaces under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The physisorbed tritungsten nonaoxides were found as isolated single units located on metallic attraction points or as supramolecular self-assemblies with a W3O9-capped hexagonal scaffold of W3O9 units. By applying the scanning tunneling microscopy to the W3O9(W3O9)6 structures individual units undergo a tip induced reduction to W3O8. At elevated temperatures agglomeration and the growth of large WO3 islands, which thickness is strongly limited to a maximum of two unit cells, is observed. The findings boost progress toward the template-directed nucleation, growth, networking and charge state-manipulation of functional molecular nanostructures at surfaces using operando techniques.