We present a unique remodeling of flat copper terraces induced by organic molecules. In particular, we show how metal-phthalocyanines (MPc, M = Zn and Cu) tailor the formation of regular arrays of Cu nanostripes on its (110) surface. The MPc mediated reshaping of Cu(110) terraces is found to involve a massive reorganization of Cu adatoms, at variance with the conventional changes of metal reconstructions upon molecular adsorption observed so far. By combining experimental and theoretical surface science techniques, we reveal the key role played by the metal atom at the molecular center in reshaping the terrace structure. Moreover, we demonstrate that extra Cu adatoms surrounding the molecules stabilize the molecular decoration of the Cu nanostripes. The massive surface reshaping is thus due to molecular mediated unidirectional blocking of adatom surface diffusion followed by adatom capture and accumulation.

We acknowledge support from the Basque Department of Education, UPV/EHU (Grants IT-756-13 and IT-621-13), the Spanish Government (Grants FIS2010-19609-C02-01, MAT2010-21156-C03-01 and -C03-03, and PIB2010US-00652), and the European Union FP7-ICT Integrated Project PAMS under contract No. 610446.

Peer Reviewed