Quasi-one-dimensional cyano-phenylene aggregates: Uniform molecule alignment contrasts varying electrostatic surface potential.

The epitaxial growth of the mono-functionalized para-quaterphenylene molecule CNHP4 on muscovite mica is investigated. The vacuum deposited molecules aggregate into nanofibers of varying morphology. Due to muscovite's cm symmetry, almost mutually parallel fibers grow. Polarized light microscopy together with X-ray diffraction resolves the projected orientation of the molecules on the substrate surface and within the fibers. Several different contact planes with the substrate are detected. For all of them, the molecules orient with their long molecule axis approximately perpendicular to the grooved muscovite direction, so that the alignment of the molecules on the substrate is uniform. Kelvin probe force microscopy finds vastly different electrostatic properties of different fiber types and facets.