We have investigated the fabrication of a superstructured one-dimensional alloy using
bis(dimethylglyoximato)metal(II) (M(dmg)2, M = Pd, Pt) with a vacuum evaporation
technique. It was found that coevaporation of these metal complexes gave a thin film of
their mixed crystal. The films were quite transparent showing a strong d
z
2
−p
z
transition
band in the visible region, of which the peak wavelength subsequently varied in proportion
to the mixing ratio. These results suggested that a linear alloy chain was formed in the film
of the mixed crystal. A perpendicular orientation of the alloy chain axis could be obtained
by depositing the mixed crystal on a KBr-cleaved surface. These findings make it possible
to fabricate a one-dimensional superlattice in which several metal components are artificially
arranged in a linear chain as designed. Pt(dmg)2 and Pd(dmg)2 were alternatively deposited
on a KBr-cleaved surface. Peak shifts of the d
z
2
−p
z
transition bands showed that a
heterojunction between the platinum and palladium complexes could be formed in a linear
alloy chain. It was revealed that the unit metal-chain length in a one-dimensional alloy
could be tuned by the control of the deposited film thickness.