Electron stimulated polymerization of solid C60

Electron-stimulated modifications to pure C60 films grown on GaAs(110) have been induced by ∼3 eV electrons from a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and from 1500 eV electrons from an electron gun. In the STM-modified area, a variety of apparent molecular sizes and shapes were observed with intramolecular contrast and a blurring of intermolecular distinction. Surfaces bombarded by 1500 eV electrons showed modifications over larger areas and these results suggested a growth mode for polymerization. Annealing of such modified surfaces restored the ordered fcc structure.