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Frezza F, Sánchez-Grande A, Canola S, Lamancová A, Mutombo P, Chen Q, Wäckerlin C, Ernst KH, Muntwiler M, Zema N, Di Giovannantonio M, Nachtigallová D, Jelínek P. Controlling On-Surface Photoactivity: The Impact of π-Conjugation in Anhydride-Functionalized Molecules on a Semiconductor Surface. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202405983. [PMID: 38699982 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
On-surface synthesis has become a prominent method for growing low-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterials on metal surfaces. However, the necessity of decoupling organic nanostructures from metal substrates to exploit their properties requires either transfer methods or new strategies to perform reactions directly on inert surfaces. The use of on-surface light-induced reactions directly on semiconductor/insulating surfaces represents an alternative approach to address these challenges. Here, exploring the photochemical activity of different organic molecules on a SnSe semiconductor surface under ultra-high vacuum, we present a novel on-surface light-induced reaction. The selective photodissociation of the anhydride group is observed, releasing CO and CO2. Moreover, we rationalize the relationship between the photochemical activity and the π-conjugation of the molecular core. The different experimental behaviour of two model anhydrides was elucidated by theoretical calculations, showing how the molecular structure influences the distribution of the excited states. Our findings open new pathways for on-surface synthesis directly on technologically relevant substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Frezza
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519, Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Ana Sánchez-Grande
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Sofia Canola
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Lamancová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo námĕstí 542/2, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pingo Mutombo
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Qifan Chen
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Christian Wäckerlin
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Karl-Heinz Ernst
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicola Zema
- CNR - Istituto di Struttura della Materia (CNR-ISM), via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Di Giovannantonio
- CNR - Istituto di Struttura della Materia (CNR-ISM), via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Dana Nachtigallová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo námĕstí 542/2, 160 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- IT4Innovations, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, 708 00, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Jelínek
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200, Prague 6, Czech Republic
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2
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Manikandan M, Nicolini P, Hapala P. Computational Design of Photosensitive Polymer Templates To Drive Molecular Nanofabrication. ACS NANO 2024; 18:9969-9979. [PMID: 38545921 PMCID: PMC11008366 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Molecular electronics promises the ultimate level of miniaturization of computers and other machines as organic molecules are the smallest known physical objects with nontrivial structure and function. But despite the plethora of molecular switches, memories, and motors developed during the almost 50-years long history of molecular electronics, mass production of molecular computers is still an elusive goal. This is mostly due to the lack of scalable nanofabrication methods capable of rapidly producing complex structures (similar to silicon chips or living cells) with atomic precision and a small number of defects. Living nature solves this problem by using linear polymer templates encoding large volumes of structural information into sequence of hydrogen bonded end groups which can be efficiently replicated and which can drive assembly of other molecular components into complex supramolecular structures. In this paper, we propose a nanofabrication method based on a class of photosensitive polymers inspired by these natural principles, which can operate in concert with UV photolithography used for fabrication of current microelectronic processors. We believe that such a method will enable a smooth transition from silicon toward molecular nanoelectronics and photonics. To demonstrate its feasibility, we performed a computational screening of candidate molecules that can selectively bind and therefore allow the deterministic assembly of molecular components. In the process, we unearthed trends and design principles applicable beyond the immediate scope of our proposed nanofabrication method, e.g., to biologically relevant DNA analogues and molecular recognition within hydrogen-bonded systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithun Manikandan
- Institute of Physics (FZU), Czech
Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paolo Nicolini
- Institute of Physics (FZU), Czech
Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Prokop Hapala
- Institute of Physics (FZU), Czech
Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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3
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Zuzak R, Castro-Esteban J, Engelund M, Pérez D, Peña D, Godlewski S. On-Surface Synthesis of Nanographenes and Graphene Nanoribbons on Titanium Dioxide. ACS NANO 2023; 17:2580-2587. [PMID: 36692226 PMCID: PMC9933590 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The formation of two types of nanographenes from custom designed and synthesized molecular precursors has been achieved through thermally induced intramolecular cyclodehydrogenation reactions on the semiconducting TiO2(110)-(1×1) surface, confirmed by the combination of high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) measurements, and corroborated by theoretical modeling. The application of this protocol on differently shaped molecular precursors demonstrates the ability to induce a highly efficient planarization reaction both within strained pentahelicenes as well as between vicinal phenyl rings. Additionally, by the combination of successive Ullmann-type polymerization and cyclodehydrogenation reactions, the archetypic 7-armchair graphene nanoribbons (7-AGNRs) have also been fabricated on the titanium dioxide surface from the standard 10,10'-dibromo-9,9'-bianthryl (DBBA) molecular precursors. These examples of the effective cyclodehydrogenative planarization processes provide perspectives for the rational design and synthesis of molecular nanostructures on semiconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Zuzak
- Centre
for Nanometer-Scale Science and Advanced Materials, NANOSAM, Faculty
of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, PL 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Jesus Castro-Esteban
- Centro
de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais
Moleculares (CiQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago
de Compostela, Spain
| | - Mads Engelund
- Espeem
S.A.R.L. (espeem.com), 12 Cité Franz Leesbierg, L-4206 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Dolores Pérez
- Centro
de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais
Moleculares (CiQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago
de Compostela, Spain
| | - Diego Peña
- Centro
de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais
Moleculares (CiQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago
de Compostela, Spain
| | - Szymon Godlewski
- Centre
for Nanometer-Scale Science and Advanced Materials, NANOSAM, Faculty
of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, PL 30-348 Krakow, Poland
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4
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On-Surface Chemistry on Low-Reactive Surfaces. CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemistry4030057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zero-dimensional (0D), mono-dimensional (1D), or two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures with well-defined properties fabricated directly on surfaces are of growing interest. The fabrication of covalently bound nanostructures on non-metallic surfaces is very promising in terms of applications, but the lack of surface assistance during their synthesis is still a challenge to achieving the fabrication of large-scale and defect-free nanostructures. We discuss the state-of-the-art approaches recently developed in order to provide covalently bounded nanoarchitectures on passivated metallic surfaces, semiconductors, and insulators.
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5
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Kutz A, Rahman MT, Haapasilta V, Venturini C, Bechstein R, Gordon A, Foster AS, Kühnle A. Impact of the reaction pathway on the final product in on-surface synthesis. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:6109-6114. [PMID: 32031553 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp06044h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
On-surface synthesis provides a very promising strategy for creating stable functional structures on surfaces. In the past, classical reactions known from solution synthesis have been successfully transferred onto a surface. Due to the presence of the surface, on-surface synthesis provides the potential of directing the reaction pathway in a manner that might not be accessible in classical solution synthesis. In this work, we present evidence for an acetylene polymerization from a terminal alkyne monomer deposited onto calcite (10.4). Strikingly, although the dimer forms on the surface as well, we find no indication for diacetylene polymerization. This is in sharp contrast to what is observed when directly depositing the dimers on the surface. The different pathways are linked to the specific arrangement of the dimers on the surface. When forming stripes along the [-4-21] direction, the diacetylene polymerization is prohibited, while when arranged in stripes aligned along the [010] direction, the dimers can undergo diacetylene polymerization. Our work thus constitutes a demonstration for controlling the specific reaction pathway in on-surface synthesis by the presence of the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Kutz
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099 Mainz, Germany
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6
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Colazzo L, Casarin M, Sambi M, Sedona F. On-Surface Photochemistry of Pre-Ordered 1-Methyl-2-phenyl-acetylenes: C-H Bond Activation and Intermolecular Coupling on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite. Chemphyschem 2019; 20:2317-2321. [PMID: 31245897 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201900382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In this contribution we report on light-induced metal-free coupling of propynylbenzene molecular units on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The reaction occurs within the self-assembled monolayer and leads to the generation of covalently coupled 1,5-hexadiyne and para-terphenyl derivatives under topological control. Such photochemical uncatalysed pathway represents an original approach in the field of topological C-C coupling at the solid/liquid interface and provides new insight into the low temperature formation of aromatic compounds at the surface of carbonaceous supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Colazzo
- Center for Quantum Nanoscience, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Physics, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Maurizio Casarin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.,CNR-ICMATE, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Mauro Sambi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Consorzio INSTM, Unità di Ricerca di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Sedona
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
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7
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Palmino F, Loppacher C, Chérioux F. Photochemistry Highlights on On-Surface Synthesis. Chemphyschem 2019; 20:2271-2280. [PMID: 31225692 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201900312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
On-surface chemistry is a promising way to achieve the bottom-up construction of covalently-bonded molecular precursors into extended atomically-precise polymers adsorbed on surfaces. These polymers exhibit unprecedented physical or chemical properties which are of great interest for various potential applications. These nanostructures were mainly obtained in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) on noble metal single-crystal surfaces by thermal annealing as stimulus to provoke the polymerization with a catalytic role of the surface adatoms. Nevertheless, photons are also a powerful source of energy to induce the formation of covalent architectures, even if it is less-used on surfaces than in solution. In this minireview, we discuss the photo-induced on-surface polymerization from the basic mechanisms of photochemistry to the formation of extended polymers on different kinds of surfaces, which are characterized by scanning probe microscopies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Palmino
- Institut FEMTO-ST, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS, 15B avenue des Montboucons, F-25030, Besancon, France
| | - C Loppacher
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IM2NP, F-13397, Marseille, France
| | - F Chérioux
- Institut FEMTO-ST, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS, 15B avenue des Montboucons, F-25030, Besancon, France
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8
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Clair S, de Oteyza DG. Controlling a Chemical Coupling Reaction on a Surface: Tools and Strategies for On-Surface Synthesis. Chem Rev 2019; 119:4717-4776. [PMID: 30875199 PMCID: PMC6477809 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 325] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
On-surface synthesis is appearing as an extremely promising research field aimed at creating new organic materials. A large number of chemical reactions have been successfully demonstrated to take place directly on surfaces through unusual reaction mechanisms. In some cases the reaction conditions can be properly tuned to steer the formation of the reaction products. It is thus possible to control the initiation step of the reaction and its degree of advancement (the kinetics, the reaction yield); the nature of the reaction products (selectivity control, particularly in the case of competing processes); as well as the structure, position, and orientation of the covalent compounds, or the quality of the as-formed networks in terms of order and extension. The aim of our review is thus to provide an extensive description of all tools and strategies reported to date and to put them into perspective. We specifically define the different approaches available and group them into a few general categories. In the last part, we demonstrate the effective maturation of the on-surface synthesis field by reporting systems that are getting closer to application-relevant levels thanks to the use of advanced control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Clair
- Aix
Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IM2NP, Marseille, France
| | - Dimas G. de Oteyza
- Donostia
International Physics Center, San
Sebastián 20018, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales CSIC-UPV/EHU-MPC, San Sebastián 20018, Spain
- Ikerbasque,
Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48013, Spain
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9
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Goronzy DP, Ebrahimi M, Rosei F, Fang Y, De Feyter S, Tait SL, Wang C, Beton PH, Wee ATS, Weiss PS, Perepichka DF. Supramolecular Assemblies on Surfaces: Nanopatterning, Functionality, and Reactivity. ACS NANO 2018; 12:7445-7481. [PMID: 30010321 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b03513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how molecules interact to form large-scale hierarchical structures on surfaces holds promise for building designer nanoscale constructs with defined chemical and physical properties. Here, we describe early advances in this field and highlight upcoming opportunities and challenges. Both direct intermolecular interactions and those that are mediated by coordinated metal centers or substrates are discussed. These interactions can be additive, but they can also interfere with each other, leading to new assemblies in which electrical potentials vary at distances much larger than those of typical chemical interactions. Earlier spectroscopic and surface measurements have provided partial information on such interfacial effects. In the interim, scanning probe microscopies have assumed defining roles in the field of molecular organization on surfaces, delivering deeper understanding of interactions, structures, and local potentials. Self-assembly is a key strategy to form extended structures on surfaces, advancing nanolithography into the chemical dimension and providing simultaneous control at multiple scales. In parallel, the emergence of graphene and the resulting impetus to explore 2D materials have broadened the field, as surface-confined reactions of molecular building blocks provide access to such materials as 2D polymers and graphene nanoribbons. In this Review, we describe recent advances and point out promising directions that will lead to even greater and more robust capabilities to exploit designer surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic P Goronzy
- California NanoSystems Institute , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
| | - Maryam Ebrahimi
- INRS Centre for Energy, Materials and Telecommunications , 1650 Boul. Lionel Boulet , Varennes , Quebec J3X 1S2 , Canada
| | - Federico Rosei
- INRS Centre for Energy, Materials and Telecommunications , 1650 Boul. Lionel Boulet , Varennes , Quebec J3X 1S2 , Canada
- Institute for Fundamental and Frontier Science , University of Electronic Science and Technology of China , Chengdu 610054 , P.R. China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Chemistry , McGill University , Montreal H3A 0B8 , Canada
| | - Steven De Feyter
- Department of Chemistry , KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F , Leuven 3001 , Belgium
| | - Steven L Tait
- Department of Chemistry , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
| | - Chen Wang
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Peter H Beton
- School of Physics & Astronomy , University of Nottingham , Nottingham NG7 2RD , United Kingdom
| | - Andrew T S Wee
- Department of Physics , National University of Singapore , 117542 Singapore
| | - Paul S Weiss
- California NanoSystems Institute , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
| | - Dmitrii F Perepichka
- California NanoSystems Institute , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
- Department of Chemistry , McGill University , Montreal H3A 0B8 , Canada
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10
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Micrometre-long covalent organic fibres by photoinitiated chain-growth radical polymerization on an alkali-halide surface. Nat Chem 2018; 10:1112-1117. [DOI: 10.1038/s41557-018-0120-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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11
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Eisenhut F, Krüger J, Skidin D, Nikipar S, Alonso JM, Guitián E, Pérez D, Ryndyk DA, Peña D, Moresco F, Cuniberti G. Hexacene generated on passivated silicon. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:12582-12587. [PMID: 29938293 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr03422b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
On-surface synthesis represents a successful strategy to obtain designed molecular structures on an ultra-clean metal substrate. While metal surfaces are known to favor adsorption, diffusion, and chemical bonding between molecular groups, on-surface synthesis on non-metallic substrates would allow the electrical decoupling of the resulting molecule from the surface, favoring application to electronics and spintronics. Here, we demonstrate the on-surface generation of hexacene by surface-assisted reduction on a H-passivated Si(001) surface. The reaction, observed by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, is probably driven by the formation of Si-O complexes at dangling bond defects. Supported by density functional theory calculations, we investigate the interaction of hexacene with the passivated silicon surface, and with single silicon dangling bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Eisenhut
- Institute for Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, TU Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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12
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Richter A, Floris A, Bechstein R, Kantorovich L, Kühnle A. On-surface synthesis on a bulk insulator surface. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:133001. [PMID: 29460853 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aab0b9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
On-surface synthesis has rapidly emerged as a most promising approach to prepare functional molecular structures directly on a support surface. Compared to solution synthesis, performing chemical reactions on a surface offers several exciting new options: due to the absence of a solvent, reactions can be envisioned that are otherwise not feasible due to the insolubility of the reaction product. Perhaps even more important, the confinement to a two-dimensional surface might enable reaction pathways that are not accessible otherwise. Consequently, on-surface synthesis has attracted great attention in the last decade, with an impressive number of classical reactions transferred to a surface as well as new reactions demonstrated that have no classical analogue. So far, the majority of the work has been carried out on conducting surfaces. However, when aiming for electronic decoupling of the resulting structures, e.g. for the use in future molecular electronic devices, non-conducting surfaces are highly desired. Here, we review the current status of on-surface reactions demonstrated on the (10.4) surface of the bulk insulator calcite. Besides thermally induced C-C coupling of halogen-substituted aryls, photochemically induced [2 + 2] cycloaddition has been proven possible on this surface. Moreover, experimental evidence exists for coupling of terminal alkynes as well as diacetylene polymerization. While imaging of the resulting structures with dynamic atomic force microscopy provides a direct means of reaction verification, the detailed reaction pathway often remains unclear. Especially in cases where the presence of metal atoms is known to catalyze the corresponding solution chemistry reaction (e.g. in the case of the Ullmann reaction), disclosing the precise reaction pathway is of importance to understand and generalize on-surface reactivity on a bulk insulator surface. To this end, density-functional theory calculations have proven to provide atomic-scale insights that have greatly contributed to unravelling the details of on-surface synthesis on a bulk insulator surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Richter
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099 Mainz, Germany
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