Eur. Phys. J. B 74, 339-344 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2010-00104-8

Probing the molecular orbitals of FePc near the chemical potential using electron energy-loss spectroscopy

IFW Dresden, P.O. Box 270116, 01171 Dresden, Germany

Corresponding author: m.knupfer@ifw-dresden.de

Received: 22 December 2009
Revised: 8 February 2010
Published online: 24 March 2010

Abstract

We have studied the electronic structure of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) films at low temperature using electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The electronic excitation spectrum of FePc is rather complex and comprises both π-π^* transitions of the phthalocyanine ligand and transitions that involve the Fe 3d orbitals. The C 1s core excitations provide so far unidentified information on the molecular orbitals. They demonstrate that the Fe 3d orbital with e_g symmetry is energetically located in between the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied ligand state and that it is not fully occupied.