Dr. Daniel Lüftner » People

@article{Brandstetter2020,

title = {kMap.py: A Python program for simulation and data analysis in photoemission tomography},

author = {D. Brandstetter and X. Yang and D. Lüftner and F. S. Tautz and P. Puschnig},

doi = {10.1016/j.cpc.2021.107905},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Comp. Phys. Commun.},

volume = {263},

pages = {107905},

abstract = {Ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy is a widely-used experimental technique to investigate the valence electronic structure of surfaces and interfaces. When detecting the intensity of the emitted electrons not only as a function of their kinetic energy, but also depending on their emission angle, as is done in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), extremely rich information about the electronic structure of the investigated sample can be extracted. For organic molecules adsorbed as well-oriented ultra-thin films on metallic surfaces, ARPES has evolved into a technique called photoemission tomography (PT). By approximating the final state of the photoemitted electron as a free electron, PT uses the angular dependence of the photocurrent, a so-called momentum map or k-map, and interprets it as the Fourier transform of the initial state’s molecular orbital, thereby gaining insights into the geometric and electronic structure of organic/metal interfaces. In this contribution, we present kMap.py which is a Python program that enables the user, via a PyQt-based graphical user interface, to simulate photoemission momentum maps of molecular orbitals and to perform a one-to-one comparison between simulation and experiment. Based on the plane wave approximation for the final state, simulated momentum maps are computed numerically from a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of real space molecular orbital distributions, which are used as program input and taken from density functional calculations. The program allows the user to vary a number of simulation parameters, such as the final state kinetic energy, the molecular orientation or the polarization state of the incident light field. Moreover, also experimental photoemission data can be loaded into the program, enabling a direct visual comparison as well as an automatic optimization procedure to determine structural parameters of the molecules or weights of molecular orbitals contributions. With an increasing number of experimental groups employing photoemission tomography to study molecular adsorbate layers, we expect kMap.py to serve as a helpful analysis software to further extend the applicability of PT.},

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}

@article{Metzger2020,

title = {Plane-wave final state for photoemission from nonplanar molecules at a metal-organic interface},

author = {C. Metzger and M. Graus and M. Grimm and G. Zamborlini and V. Feyer and M. Schwendt and D. Lüftner and P. Puschnig and A. Schöll and F. Reinert},

doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.101.165421},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-01},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {101},

issue = {16},

pages = {165421},

publisher = {American Physical Society},

abstract = {In recent years, the method of orbital tomography has been a useful tool for the analysis of a variety of molecular systems. However, the underlying plane-wave final state has been largely expected to be applicable to planar molecules only. Here, we demonstrate on photoemission data from the molecule C60 adsorbed on Ag(110) that it can indeed be a valid approximation for truly three-dimensional molecules at a metal-organic interface. A comparison of the experimental data supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the full interface and simulations of the photoemission process with a more exact final state enables the determination of the adsorption geometry and orientation of the C60 molecules in a monolayer on the Ag(110) surface. Additionally, charge transfer into the molecules is used to confirm the lifting in degeneracy of the t1u molecular orbitals as predicted by DFT calculations.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Haag2020,

title = {Signatures of an atomic crystal in the band structure of a C60 thin film},

author = {N. Haag and D. Lüftner and F. Haag and J. Seidel and L. L. Kelly and G. Zamborlini and M. Jugovac and V. Feyer and M. Aeschlimann and P. Puschnig and M. Cinchetti and B. Stadtmüller},

doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.101.165422},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-01},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {101},

issue = {16},

pages = {165422},

publisher = {American Physical Society},

abstract = {Transport phenomena in molecular materials are intrinsically linked to the orbital character and the degree of localization of the valence states. Here we combine angle-resolved photoemission with photoemission tomography to determine the spatial distribution of all molecular states of the valence band structure of a C60 thin film. While the two most frontier valence states exhibit a strong band dispersion, the states at larger binding energies are characterized by distinct emission patterns in energy and momentum space. Our findings demonstrate the formation of an atomic crystal-like band structure in a molecular solid with delocalized π-like valence states and strongly localized σ states at larger binding energies.},

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tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Hurdax2020,

title = {Controlling the Charge Transfer across Thin Dielectric Interlayers},

author = {P. Hurdax and M. Hollerer and P. Puschnig and D. Lüftner and L. Egger and M. G. Ramsey and M. Sterrer},

doi = {10.1002/admi.202000592},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Adv. Mater. Interfaces},

volume = {7},

pages = {2000592},

abstract = {Whether intentional or unintentional, thin dielectric interlayers can be found in technologies ranging from catalysis to organic electronics. While originally considered as passive decoupling layers, recently it has been shown that they can actively promote charge transfer from the underlying metal to adsorbates. This charging can have profound effects on the surface chemistry of atoms, atomic clusters, and molecules, their magnetic moments, and charge injection at the contacts of organic devices. Yet, controlled studies required to understand the charge transfer process in depth are still lacking. Here, a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of charge transfer using the atomically controlled system of pentacene on ultrathin MgO(100) films on Ag(100) is presented. It is shown that the charge transfer process is governed by the charged and uncharged molecular species with distinct energy levels in the first monolayer. The experimental approach applied in this work allows to observe and control their ratio through direct tuning of either the work function or the thickness of the dielectric interlayer.},

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}

@article{Egger2018,

title = {Can photoemission tomography be useful for small, strongly-interacting adsorbate systems?},

author = {L. Egger and B. Kollmann and P. Hurdax and D. Lüftner and X. Yang and S. Weiß and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey},

doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab0781},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {New J. Phys.},

volume = {21},

pages = {043003},

abstract = {Molecular orbital tomography, also termed photoemission tomography, which considers the final state as a simple plane wave, has been very successful in describing the photoemisson distribution of large adsorbates on noble metal surfaces. Here, following a suggestion by Bradshaw and Woodruff (2015 New J. Phys. 17 013033), we consider a small and strongly-interacting system, benzene adsorbed on palladium (110), to consider the extent of the problems that can arise with the final state simplification. Our angle-resolved photoemission experiments, supported by density functional theory calculations, substantiate and refine the previously determined adsorption geometry and reveal an energetic splitting of the frontier π-orbital due to a symmetry breaking which has remained unnoticed before. We find that, despite the small size of benzene and the comparably strong interaction with palladium, the overall appearance of the photoemission angular distributions can basically be understood within a plane wave final state approximation and yields a deeper understanding of the electronic structure of the interface. There are, however, noticeable deviations between measured and simulated angular patterns which we ascribe to molecule-substrate interactions and effects beyond a plane-wave final state description.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Yang2019,

title = {Identifying surface reaction intermediates with photoemission tomography},

author = {X. Yang and L. Egger and P. Hurdax and H. Kaser and D. Lüftner and F. C. Bocquet and G. Koller and A. Gottwald and P. Tegeder and M. Richter and M. G. Ramsey and P. Puschnig and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz},

doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-11133-9},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Nat. Commun.},

volume = {10},

pages = {3189},

abstract = {The determination of reaction pathways and the identification of reaction intermediates are key issues in chemistry. Surface reactions are particularly challenging, since many methods of analytical chemistry are inapplicable at surfaces. Recently, atomic force microscopy has been employed to identify surface reaction intermediates. While providing an excellent insight into the molecular backbone structure, atomic force microscopy is less conclusive about the molecular periphery, where adsorbates tend to react with the substrate. Here we show that photoemission tomography is extremely sensitive to the character of the frontier orbitals. Specifically, hydrogen abstraction at the molecular periphery is easily detected, and the precise nature of the reaction intermediates can be determined. This is illustrated with the thermally induced reaction of dibromo-bianthracene to graphene which is shown to proceed via a fully hydrogenated bisanthene intermediate. We anticipate that photoemission tomography will become a powerful companion to other techniques in the study of surface reaction pathways.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Yang2019a,

title = {Coexisting Charge States in a Unary Organic Monolayer Film on a Metal},

author = {X. Yang and L. Egger and J. Fuchsberger and M. Unzog and D. Lüftner and F. Hajek and P. Hurdax and M. Jugovac and G. Zamborlini and V. Feyer and G. Koller and P. Puschnig and F. S. Tautz and M. G. Ramsey and S. Soubatch},

doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02231},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {J. Phys. Chem. Lett.},

volume = {10},

pages = {6438-6445},

abstract = {The electronic and geometric structures of tetracene films on Ag(110) and Cu(110) have been studied with photoemission tomography and compared to that of pentacene. Despite similar energy level alignment of the two oligoacenes on these surfaces revealed by conventional ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, the momentum-space resolved photoemission tomography reveals a significant difference in both structural and electronic properties of tetracene and pentacene films. Particularly, the saturated monolayer of tetracene on Ag(110) is found to consist of two molecular species that, despite having the same orientation, are electronically very different—while one molecule remains neutral, another is charged because of electron donation from the substrate.},

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pubstate = {published},

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}

@article{Zamborlini2018,

title = {On-surface nickel porphyrin mimics the reactive center of enzyme cofactor},

author = {G. Zamborlini and M. Jugovac and A. Cossaro and A. Verdini and L. Floreano and D. Lüftner and P. Puschnig and V. Feyer and C. M. Schneider},

doi = {10.1039/C8CC06739B},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {Chem. Commun.},

volume = {54},

pages = {13423-13426},

abstract = {Metal-containing enzyme cofactors achieve their unusual seactivity by stabilizing uncommon metal oxidation states with structurally complex ligands. In particular, the specific cofactor promoting both methanogenesis and anaerobic methane oxidation is a porphynoid chelated to a nickel (I) atom via a multi-step biosynthetic path, where the nickel reduction is achieved through extensive molecular hydrogenation. Here, we demonstrate an alternative route to porphyrin reduction by charge transfer from a selected copper substrate to commercially available 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-porphyrin nickel(II). X-ray absorption measurements at the Ni L3-edge unequivocally show that NiTPP adsorbed on Cu(100) are stabilized in the highly reactive Ni(I) oxidation state by electron transfer to the molecular orbitals. Our approach highlights how some fundamental properties of synthetically inaccessible biological cofactors may be reproduced by hybridization of simple metalloporphyrins with metal surfaces, with implications towards novel approaches to heterogenous catalysis.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Yang2018,

title = {On the decoupling of molecules at metal surfaces},

author = {X. Yang and I. Krieger and D. Lüftner and S. Weiß and T. Heepenstrick and M. Hollerer and P. Hurdax and G. Koller and M. Sokolowski and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz and S. Soubatch},

doi = {10.1039/C8CC03334J},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

urldate = {2018-01-01},

journal = {Chem. Commun.},

volume = {54},

pages = {9039-9042},

abstract = {We report a method to achieve physical and electronic decoupling of organic molecules from a metal surface. Oxygen adsorbed on the Cu(100) surface immobilizes the surface electrons in the Cu–O covalent bonds. This results in electronic surface hardening and prevents charge transfer from the metal into perylene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride molecules subsequently deposited on this surface.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Kollmann2018,

title = {Synthesis and combined experimental and theoretical characterization of dihydro-tetraaza-acenes},

author = {B. Kollmann and Z. Chen and D. Lüftner and O. Siri and P. Puschnig},

doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b00985},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {J. Phys. Chem. C},

volume = {122},

pages = {6475-6482},

abstract = {We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of electronic and optical properties of dihydro-tetraaza-acenes (DHTAn). Using solvent-free condensation, we are able to synthesize not only DHTA5 but also the longer DHTA6 and DHTA7 molecules. We then investigate their gas-phase electronic structures by means of ab initio density functional calculations employing an optimally tuned range-separated hybrid functional. By comparing with the parent linear oligoacenes (nA) and based on computed ionization potentials and electron affinities, we predict DHTAn molecules to be more stable than acenes of the same length, where we expect DHTAn molecules to be persistent at least up to n = 7 rings. We further exploit the analogy with nA by analyzing the entire intramolecular π-band structure of the DHTAn molecules. This clearly reveals that the additional two electrons donated by the dihydropyrazine group are delocalized over the entire molecule and contribute to its π-electron system. As a consequence, the symmetry of the frontier orbitals of DHTAn differs from that of the parent nA molecule. This also affects the UV–vis absorption spectra which have been measured for DHTA5, 6, and 7 dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and analyzed by means of excited state calculations within a time-dependent density functional theory framework.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Udhardt2017,

title = {Influence of Film and Substrate Structure on Photoelectron Momentum Maps of Coronene Thin Films on Ag(111)},

author = {C. Udhardt and F. Otto and C. S. Kern and D. Lüftner and T. Huempfner and T. Kirchhuebel and F. Sojka and M. Meißner and B. Schröter and R. Forker and P. Puschnig and T. Fritz},

doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b03500},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

urldate = {2017-01-01},

journal = {J. Phys. Chem. C},

volume = {121},

pages = {12285-12293},

abstract = {Angle-resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS) was measured for one-monolayer coronene films deposited on Ag(111). The (kx,ky)-dependent photoelectron momentum maps (PMMs), which were extracted from the ARUPS data by cuts at fixed binding energies, show finely structured patterns for the highest and the second-highest occupied molecular orbitals. While the substructure of the PMM main features is related to the 4 × 4 commensurate film structure, various features with three-fold symmetry imply an additional influence of the substrate. PMM simulations on the basis of both free-standing coronene assemblies and coronene monolayers on the Ag(111) substrate confirm a sizable molecule–molecule interaction because no substructure was observed for PMM simulations using free coronene molecules.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

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@article{Lueftner2017,

title = {Understanding the photoemission distribution of strongly interacting two-dimensional overlayers},

author = {D. Lüftner and S. Weiß and X. Yang and P. Hurdax and V. Feyer and A. Gottwald and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz},

doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.96.125402},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {96},

pages = {125402},

abstract = {Photoemission tomography (PT), the analysis of the photoemission intensity distribution within the plane wave final-state approximation, is being established as a useful tool for extracting the electronic and geometric structure of weakly interacting organic overlayers. Here we present a simple method for extending PT, which until now has been based on the calculations of isolated molecules. By including the substrate and a damped plane-wave final state, we are able to simulate the photoemission intensity distribution of two-dimensional molecular overlayers with both strong intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions, here demonstrated for the model system 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) on Cu(100). It is shown that the interaction and hybridization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of PTCDA with substrate states leads to its occupation and the formation of a strongly dispersing intermolecular band, whose experimental magnitude of 1.1 eV and k-space periodicity is well reproduced theoretically.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Zamborlini2017,

title = {Multi-orbital charge transfer at highly oriented organic/metal interfaces},

author = {G. Zamborlini and D. Lüftner and Z. Feng and B. Kollmann and P. Puschnig and C. Dri and M. Panighel and G. Di Santo and A. Goldoni and G. Comelli and M. Jugovac and V. Feyer and C. M. Schneider},

doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-00402-0},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Nat. Commun.},

volume = {8},

pages = {335},

abstract = {The molecule–substrate interaction plays a key role in charge injection organic-based devices. Charge transfer at molecule–metal interfaces strongly affects the overall physical and magnetic properties of the system, and ultimately the device performance. Here, we report theoretical and experimental evidence of a pronounced charge transfer involving nickel tetraphenyl porphyrin molecules adsorbed on Cu(100). The exceptional charge transfer leads to filling of the higher unoccupied orbitals up to LUMO+3. As a consequence of this strong interaction with the substrate, the porphyrin’s macrocycle sits very close to the surface, forcing the phenyl ligands to bend upwards. Due to this adsorption configuration, scanning tunneling microscopy cannot reliably probe the states related to the macrocycle. We demonstrate that photoemission tomography can instead access the Ni-TPP macrocycle electronic states and determine the reordering and filling of the LUMOs upon adsorption, thereby confirming the remarkable charge transfer predicted by density functional theory calculations.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Puschnig2016,

title = {Energy ordering of molecular orbitals},

author = {P. Puschnig and A. D. Boese and M. Willenbockel and M. Meyer and D. Lüftner and E. M. Reinisch and T. Ules and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz},

doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b02517},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {J. Phys. Chem. Lett.},

volume = {8},

pages = {208-213},

abstract = {Orbitals are invaluable in providing a model of bonding in molecules or between molecules and surfaces. Most present-day methods in computational chemistry begin by calculating the molecular orbitals of the system. To what extent have these mathematical objects analogues in the real world? To shed light on this intriguing question, we employ a photoemission tomography study on monolayers of 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PTCDA) grown on three Ag surfaces. The characteristic photoelectron angular distribution enables us to assign individual molecular orbitals to the emission features. When comparing the resulting energy positions to density functional calculations, we observe deviations in the energy ordering. By performing complete active space calculations (CASSCF), we can explain the experimentally observed orbital ordering, suggesting the importance of static electron correlation beyond a (semi)local approximation. On the other hand, our results also show reality and robustness of the orbital concept, thereby making molecular orbitals accessible to experimental observations.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Hollerer2017,

title = {Charge Transfer and Orbital Level Alignment at Inorganic/Organic Interfaces: The Role of Dielectric Interlayers},

author = {M. Hollerer and D. Lüftner and P. Hurdax and T. Ules and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz and G. Koller and P. Puschnig and M. Sterrer and M. G. Ramsey},

doi = {10.1021/acsnano.7b02449},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {ACS Nano},

volume = {11},

pages = {6252-6260},

abstract = {It is becoming accepted that ultrathin dielectric layers on metals are not merely passive decoupling layers, but can actively influence orbital energy level alignment and charge transfer at interfaces. As such, they can be important in applications ranging from catalysis to organic electronics. However, the details at the molecular level are still under debate. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of charge transfer promoted by a dielectric interlayer with a comparative study of pentacene adsorbed on Ag(001) with and without an ultrathin MgO interlayer. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and photoemission tomography supported by density functional theory, we are able to identify the orbitals involved and quantify the degree of charge transfer in both cases. Fractional charge transfer occurs for pentacene adsorbed on Ag(001), while the presence of the ultrathin MgO interlayer promotes integer charge transfer with the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital transforming into a singly occupied and singly unoccupied state separated by a large gap around the Fermi energy. Our experimental approach allows a direct access to the individual factors governing the energy level alignment and charge-transfer processes for molecular adsorbates on inorganic substrates.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ules2016,

title = {Continuous or discrete: Tuning the energy level alignment of organic layers with alkali dopants},

author = {T. Ules and D. Lüftner and E. M. Reinisch and G. Koller and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey},

doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.94.205405},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {94},

pages = {205405},

abstract = {This paper investigates the effects of cesium (Cs) deposited on pentacene (5A) and sexiphenyl (6P) monolayers on the Ag(110) substrate. The process of doping and the energy level alignment are studied quantitatively and contrasted. While ultimately for both molecules lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) filling on charge transfer upon Cs dosing is observed, the doping processes are tellingly different. In the case of 5A, hybrid molecule-substrate states and doping states coexist at lowest Cs exposures, while for 6P doping states appear only after Cs has completely decoupled the monolayer from the substrate. With the support of density functional theory calculations, this different behavior is rationalized by the local character of electrostatic potential changes induced by dopants in relation to the spatial extent of the molecules. This also has severe effects on the energy level alignment, which for most dopant/molecule systems cannot be considered continuous but discrete.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Schonauer2016,

title = {Charge transfer and symmetry reduction at the CuPc/Ag(110) interface studied by photoemission tomography},

author = {K. Schönauer and S. Weiß and V. Feyer and D. Lüftner and B. Stadtmüller and D. Schwarz and T. Sueyoshi and C. Kumpf and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz and S. Soubatch},

doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.94.205144},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {94},

pages = {205144},

abstract = {On the Ag(110) surface copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) orders in two structurally similar superstructures, as revealed by low-energy electron diffraction. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) shows that in both superstructures the molecular planes are oriented parallel to the surface and the long molecular axes, defined as diagonals of the square molecule, are rotated by ≃±32° away from the high-symmetry directions [1-10] and [001] of the silver surface. Similarly to many other adsorbed metal phthalocyanines, the CuPc molecules on Ag(110) appear in STM as crosslike features with twofold symmetry. Photoemission tomography based on angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals a charge transfer from the substrate into the molecule. A symmetry analysis of experimental and theoretical constant binding energy maps of the photoemission intensity in the kx,ky-plane points to a preferential occupation of one of the two initially degenerate lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) of eg symmetry. The occupied eg orbital is rotated by 32° against the [001] direction of the substrate. The lifting of the degeneracy of the LUMOs and the related reduction of the symmetry of the adsorbed CuPc molecule are attributed to an anisotropy in the chemical reactivity of the Ag(110) surface.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Willenbockel2014,

title = {The interplay between interface structure, energy level alignment and chemical bonding strength at organic-metal interfaces},

author = {M. Willenbockel and D. Lüftner and B. Stadtmüller and G. Koller and C. Kumpf and S. Soubatch and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz},

doi = {10.1039/C4CP04595E},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.},

volume = {17},

pages = {1530-1548},

abstract = {What do energy level alignments at metal–organic interfaces reveal about the metal–molecule bonding strength? Is it permissible to take vertical adsorption heights as indicators of bonding strengths? In this paper we analyse 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PTCDA) on the three canonical low index Ag surfaces to provide exemplary answers to these questions. Specifically, we employ angular resolved photoemission spectroscopy for a systematic study of the energy level alignments of the two uppermost frontier states in ordered monolayer phases of PTCDA. Data are analysed using the orbital tomography approach. This allows the unambiguous identification of the orbital character of these states, and also the discrimination between inequivalent species. Combining this experimental information with DFT calculations and the generic Newns–Anderson chemisorption model, we analyse the alignments of highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO and LUMO) with respect to the vacuum levels of bare and molecule-covered surfaces. This reveals clear differences between the two frontier states. In particular, on all surfaces the LUMO is subject to considerable bond stabilization through the interaction between the molecular π-electron system and the metal, as a consequence of which it also becomes occupied. Moreover, we observe a larger bond stabilization for the more open surfaces. Most importantly, our analysis shows that both the orbital binding energies of the LUMO and the overall adsorption heights of the molecule are linked to the strength of the chemical interaction between the molecular π-electron system and the metal, in the sense that stronger bonding leads to shorter adsorption heights and larger orbital binding energies.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Weiss2015,

title = {Exploring three-dimensional orbital imaging with energy-dependent photoemission tomography},

author = {S. Weiß and D. Lüftner and T. Ules and E. M. Reinisch and H. Kaser and A. Gottwald and M. Richter and S. Soubatch and G. Koller and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz and P. Puschnig},

doi = {10.1038/ncomms9287},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {Nat. Commun.},

volume = {6},

pages = {8287},

abstract = {Recently, it has been shown that experimental data from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on oriented molecular films can be utilized to retrieve real-space images of molecular orbitals in two dimensions. Here, we extend this orbital tomography technique by performing photoemission initial state scans as a function of photon energy on the example of the brickwall monolayer of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) on Ag(110). The overall dependence of the photocurrent on the photon energy can be well accounted for by assuming a plane wave for the final state. However, the experimental data, both for the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of PTCDA, exhibits an additional modulation attributed to final state scattering effects. Nevertheless, as these effects beyond a plane wave final state are comparably small, we are able, with extrapolations beyond the attainable photon energy range, to reconstruct three-dimensional images for both orbitals in agreement with calculations for the adsorbed molecule.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Puschnig2015,

title = {Simulation of angle-resolved photoemission spectra by approximating the final state by a plane wave: from graphene to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules},

author = {P. Puschnig and D. Lüftner},

doi = {10.1016/j.elspec.2015.06.003},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {J. Elec. Spec. Rel. Phen.},

volume = {200},

pages = {193-208},

abstract = {We present a computational study on the angular-resolved photoemission spectra (ARPES) from a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and graphene. Our theoretical approach is based on ab-initio density functional theory and the one-step model where we greatly simplify the evaluation of the matrix element by assuming a plane wave for the final state. Before comparing our ARPES simulations with available experimental data, we discuss how typical approximations for the exchange-correlation energy affect orbital energies. In particular, we show that by employing a hybrid functional, considerable improvement can be obtained over semi-local functionals in terms of band widths and relative energies of π and σ states. Our ARPES simulations for graphene show that the plane wave final state approximation provides indeed an excellent description when compared to experimental band maps and constant binding energy maps. Furthermore, our ARPES simulations for a number of polycyclic aromatic molecules from the oligo-acene, oligo-phenylene, phen-anthrene families as well as for disc-shaped molecules nicely illustrate the evolution of the electronic structure from molecules with increasing size towards graphene.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ramsey2015,

title = {Orbital tomography: molecular band maps, momentum maps and the imaging of real space orbitals of adsorbed molecules},

author = {H. Offenbacher and D. Lüftner and T. Ules and E. M. Reinisch and G. Koller and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey},

doi = {10.1016/j.elspec.2015.04.023},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {J. Elec. Spec. Relat. Phenom.},

volume = {204A},

pages = {92-101},

abstract = {The frontier orbitals of molecules are the prime determinants of their chemical, optical and electronic properties. Arguably, the most direct method of addressing the (filled) frontier orbitals is ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Although UPS is a mature technique from the early 1970s on, the angular distribution of the photoemitted electrons was thought to be too complex to be analysed quantitatively. Recently angle resolved UPS (ARUPS) work on conjugated molecules both, in ordered thick films and chemisorbed monolayers, has shown that the angular (momentum) distribution of the photocurrent from orbital emissions can be simply understood. The approach, based on the assumption of a plane wave final state is becoming known as orbital tomography. Here we will demonstrate, with selected examples of pentacene (5A) and sexiphenyl (6P), the potential of orbital tomography. First it will be shown how the full angular distribution of the photocurrent (momentum map) from a specific orbital is related to the real space orbital by a Fourier transform. Examples of the reconstruction of 5A orbitals will be given and the procedure for recovering the lost phase information will be outlined. We then move to examples of sexiphenyl where we interrogate the original band maps of thick sexiphenyl in the light of our understanding of orbital tomography that has developed since then. With comparison to theoretical simulations of the molecular band maps, the molecular conformation and orientation will be concluded. New results for the sexiphenyl monolayer on Al(1 1 0) will then be presented. From the band maps it will be concluded that the molecule is planarised and adopts a tilted geometry. Finally the momentum maps down to HOMO-11 will be analysed and real space orbitals reconstructed.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ules2014,

title = {Orbital Tomography of Hybridized and Dispersing Molecular Overlayers},

author = {T. Ules and D. Lüftner and E. M. Reinisch and G. Koller and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey},

doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.90.155430},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Phys. Rev. B},

volume = {90},

pages = {155430},

abstract = {With angle-resolved photoemission experiments and ab initio electronic structure calculations, the pentacene monolayers on Ag(110) and Cu(110) are compared and contrasted, allowing the molecular orientation to be determined and an unambiguous assignment of emissions to specific orbitals to be made. On Ag(110), the orbitals remain essentially isolated-molecule-like, while strong substrate-enhanced dispersion and orbital modification are observed upon adsorption on Cu(110). We show how the photoemission intensity of extended systems can be simulated and that it behaves essentially like that of the isolated molecule modulated by the band dispersion due to intermolecular interactions.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Stadtmuller2013,

title = {Unexpected interplay of bonding height and energy level alignment at heteromolecular hybrid interfaces},

author = {B. Stadtmüller and D. Lüftner and M. Willenbockel and E. M. Reinisch and T. Sueyoshi and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and M. G. Ramsey and P. Puschnig and F. S. Tautz and C. Kumpf},

doi = {10.1038/ncomms4685},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Nat. Commun.},

volume = {5},

pages = {3685},

abstract = {Although geometric and electronic properties of any physical or chemical system are always mutually coupled by the rules of quantum mechanics, counterintuitive coincidences between the two are sometimes observed. The coadsorption of the organic molecules 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride and copper-II-phthalocyanine on Ag(111) represents such a case, since geometric and electronic structures appear to be decoupled: one molecule moves away from the substrate while its electronic structure indicates a stronger chemical interaction, and vice versa for the other. Our comprehensive experimental and ab-initio theoretical study reveals that, mediated by the metal surface, both species mutually amplify their charge-donating and -accepting characters, respectively. This resolves the apparent paradox, and demonstrates with exceptional clarity how geometric and electronic bonding parameters are intertwined at metal–organic interfaces.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Luftner2013,

title = {Imaging the wave functions of adsorbed molecules},

author = {D. Lüftner and T. Ules and E. M. Reinisch and G. Koller and S. Soubatch and F. S. Tautz and M. G. Ramsey and P. Puschnig},

doi = {10.1073/pnas.1315716110},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {PNAS},

volume = {111},

number = {2},

pages = {605-610},

abstract = {In quantum mechanics, the electrons in a molecule are described by a mathematical object termed the wave function or molecular orbital. This function determines the chemical and physical properties of matter and consequently there has been much interest in measuring orbitals, despite the fact that strictly speaking they are not quantum-mechanical observables. We show how the amplitude and phase of orbitals can be measured in good agreement with wave functions from ab initio calculations. Not only do such measurements allow wave functions of complex molecules and nanostructures to be determined, they also open up a window into critical discussions of theoretical orbital concepts.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Luftner2013a,

title = {CuPc/Au(110): Determination of the azimuthal alignment by a combination of angle-resolved photoemission and density functional theory},

author = {D. Lüftner and M. Milko and S. Huppmann and M. Scholz and N. Ngyuen and M. Wießner and A. Schöll and F. Reinert and P. Puschnig},

doi = {10.1016/j.elspec.2014.06.002},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {J. Elec. Spec. Relat. Phenom.},

volume = {195},

pages = {293-300},

abstract = {Here we report on a combined experimental and theoretical study on the structural and electronic properties of a monolayer of Copper-Phthalocyanine (CuPc) on the Au(1 1 0) surface. Low-energy electron diffraction reveals a commensurate overlayer unit cell containing one adsorbate species. The azimuthal alignment of the CuPc molecule is revealed by comparing experimental constant binding energy (kxky)-maps using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with theoretical momentum maps of the free molecule's highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). This structural information is confirmed by total energy calculations within the framework of van-der-Waals corrected density functional theory. The electronic structure is further analyzed by computing the molecule-projected density of states, using both a semi-local and a hybrid exchange-correlation functional. In agreement with experiment, the HOMO is located about 1.2 eV below the Fermi-level, while there is no significant charge transfer into the molecule and the CuPc LUMO remains unoccupied on the Au(1 1 0) surface.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Willenbockel2012,

title = {Energy offsets within a molecular monolayer: The influence of the molecular environment},

author = {M. Willenbockel and B. Stadtmüller and K. Schönauer and F. C. Bocquet and D. Lüftner and E. M. Reinisch and T. Ules and G. Koller and C. Kumpf and S. Soubatch and P. Puschnig and M. G. Ramsey and F. S. Tautz},

doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/15/3/033017},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-01-01},

journal = {New J. Phys.},

volume = {15},

pages = {033017},

abstract = {The compressed 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) herringbone monolayer structure on Ag(110) is used as a model system to investigate the role of molecule–molecule interactions at metal–organic interfaces. By means of the orbital tomography technique, we can not only distinguish the two inequivalent molecules in the unit cell but also resolve their different energy positions for the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals. Density functional theory calculations of a freestanding PTCDA layer identify the electrostatic interaction between neighboring molecules, rather than the adsorption site, as the main reason for the molecular level splitting observed experimentally.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}