Underlayer Growth of a Nanoporous Single Atomic Layer of Gold

We have grown a single-layer-thick porous gold film with pore size of similar to 1 nm. The film is created by deposition of gold atoms onto a C-60 covered Au(111) surface. By controlling the sample temperature at 120-150 K, the deposited gold atoms are able to penetrate the molecular layer and reach the C-60-AU(111) interface. At the interface, the gold atoms squeeze beneath some C-60 molecules forming single-layer-high Au islands with lateral dimensions of the order of 1 nm. C-60 molecules sitting directly above such a Au nanoisland are hence lifted up from the initial Au(111) substrate. The above process self-replicates leading to the formation of a single atomic layer porous gold film with pore size of similar to 1 nm.