Linear arrays formed by interaction of thiocyanate with Pb monolayers

We used scanning tunneling microscopy to examine the effect of introducing SCN to the Pb monolayer island structure formed during the under-potential deposition (upd) of Pb on Au(lll). In the absence of SCN^- upd of Pb initially leads to the formation of Pb islands exhibiting the same hexagonal structure and atom-atom spacing (0.34 nm) as does the Pb bulk deposit. Upon addition of SCN^-, a new type of structure is formed, featuring linear rows of Pb adatoms, held apart from each other by SCN^-, which are lying flat on the electrode surface. These linear Pb structures reflect templating by the ambidentate SCN-molecule.