2-D Self-assembly of the bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium( iii ) single-molecule magnet studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy

The presence of alkoxyl chains on the single-molecule magnet [(Pc')2Tb(III)] and its planar character favour its 2-D self-assembly on HOPG with the molecular plane parallel to the graphite surface, enabling us to control and/or predict the orientation of the preferential magnetization axis on the surface.