C60 layer growth on intact and Tl-modified Si(1 1 1)5 × 2-Au surfaces

•Si(1 1 1)5 × 2-Au surface has quasi-one-dimensional structure built of Au rows and honeycomb Si chains.•Intact Si(1 1 1)5 × 2-Au template surface does not promote formation of the ordered C60 nanostructures.•Tl atoms adsorbed onto Si(1 1 1)5 × 2-Au surface occupy various sites at the honeycomb Si chains.•C60 adsorbed onto Tl-modified Si(1 1 1)5 × 2-Au surface self-assemble into the ordered nanostructures.•These are quasi-one-dimensional arrays of straight C60 stripes with C60-C60 spacing of ∼12 Å.