Self-assembly of nanoporous chiral networks with varying symmetry from sexiphenyl-dicarbonitrile on ag(111)

Dirk Kühne, Florian Klappenberger, Régis Decker, Uta Schlickum, Harald Brune, Svetlana Klyatskaya, Mario Ruben, Johannes V. Barth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

The self-assembly of sexiphenyl-dicarbonitrile molecules on the Ag(111) surface is investigated using lowtemperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in ultrahigh vacuum. Several, nanoporous networks with varying symmetry and pore size coexist on the surface after submonolayer deposition at room temperature. The different rectangular, rhombic, and kagomé shaped phases are commensurate with the Ag(111) substrate and extend over micrometer-sized domains separated by step edges. All phases are chiral and have very similar formation energetics. We attribute this to common construction principles: the approximately flatlying polyphenyl backbones following high-symmetry directions of the substrate, the epitaxial fit and the nodal motif composed of CN end groups laterally attracted by phenyl hydrogens. Close to saturation coverage, a single dense-packed phase prevails with all molecules aligned parallel within one domain. Our results demonstrate that porous networks of different complexity can evolve by the self-assembly of only one molecular species on a metal surface.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17851-17859
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume113
Issue number41
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

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