Ordering fullerenes at the nanometer scale on solid surfaces

11 pages, 16 figures.-- PMID: 19253947 [PubMed].-- Printed version published May 13, 2009.The coverage of solid surfaces with atoms and, more recently, with organic (molecules) is a broad scope area that has received the attention of the scientific community during recent years. This interest is based on the fact that this presence of the (organic) molecules usually modifies the surface properties, resulting in new materials with enhanced properties suitable for the preparation of devices in molecular electronics or for the study of emerging nanoscience and nanotechnology.In this regard, the design and development of coated surfaces showing unprecedented optoelectronic properties require detailed understanding of the phenomena occurring at the atomistic scale at the interface between the solid surface and the added molecules.Our own work has been supported by the MEC of Spain (MSR-FIS2007-0126, NAN-2004-08881-002-01, CTQ2004-00039/BQU, CTQ2008-00795/BQU, and CTQ2006-08558), Comunidad de Madrid (Nanomagnet S-0505/MAT/0194 and Madrisolar P-PPQ-000225-0505), and CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 on Molecular Nanoscience (CSD2007-00010). R.O. thanks the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation for salary support.Peer reviewe