| AVS 54th International Symposium | |
| Surface Science | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session SS2+EM+TF-WeM |
| Session: | SAMs and Organic Films I |
| Presenter: | S.L. Tait, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany |
| Authors: | S.L. Tait, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany A. Langner, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany N. Lin, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany C. Rajadurai, Research Center Karlsruhe, Germany M. Ruben, Research Center Karlsruhe, Germany K. Kern, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Supramolecular self-assembly of organic ligands and metal centers is a topic of growing interest for efficient molecular-scale patterning of surfaces. Molecular networks can be designed to self-organize in regular, 2D nanopore lattices, whose dimensions and properties can be controlled by selection of the organic ligands. This approach offers a natural alternative to current nano-fabrication methods, allowing atomic and molecular building blocks to organize themselves into useful nanostructures, and is a model system for supramolecular and biomolecular assembly in general. We present recent results of self-assembled supramolecular networks on the Cu(100) surface, which demonstrate multi-ligand construction of 2D arrays of compartments with tunable shape and size. These binary combinations of complementary ligands represent a significant step in complexity over previous studies. Of technological interest is the capability for modular replacement of either of the two ligands to produce a range of nanopore lattice sizes and shapes in a very predictable and programmable way. Of more fundamental interest in these systems is molecular level resolution imaging using scanning tunneling microscopy, which allows an unprecented perspective of fundamental steps to supramolecular assembly, such as structural error correction achieved by efficient molecule self-selection. Non-covalent metal—organic coordination provides room temperature stability and high structural ordering through directional and selective interactions, but also allows for bonding reversibility, enabling error correction during assembly. By selection of molecular building blocks with specific properties, we can "program" these systems to pattern a surface with homogenous networks of specific size, structure, and physical and chemical properties. The ability to tailor the size and functionality of nanometer-scale arrays produced by molecular self-assembly represents a unique opportunity for molecular recognition, heterogeneous catalysis, thin film growth, and other fields.