Programmable motion and patterning of molecules on solid surfaces

Directed assembly of fullerene on modified Au(111) electrodes

Here we show a conceptual approach to realize the scanning tunneling microscopy based induced-assembly of fullerene (C60) molecules on top of a buffer organic adlayer at room temperature in a solution environment. The realization of spatially-defined C60 assembly is attributed to the modulation of substrate-molecular interactions with the assistance of a buffer layer.

Electric-field-controlled phase transition in a 2D molecular layer

Self-assembly of organic molecules is a mechanism crucial for design of molecular nanodevices. We demonstrate unprecedented control over the self-assembly, which could allow switching and patterning at scales accessible by lithography techniques. We use the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to induce a reversible 2D-gas-solid phase transition of copper phthalocyanine molecules on technologically important silicon surface functionalized by a metal monolayer. By means of ab-initio calculations we show that the charge transfer in the system results in a dipole moment carried by the molecules. The dipole moment interacts with a non-uniform electric field of the STM tip and the interaction changes the local density of molecules. To model the transition, we perform kinetic Monte Carlo simulations which reveal that the ordered molecular structures can form even without any attractive intermolecular interaction.

Magnetic Field Landscapes Guiding the Chemisorption of Diamagnetic Molecules

It is shown that the self-assembly of diamagnetic molecule submonolayers on a surface can be influenced by magnetic stray field landscapes emerging from artificially fabricated magnetic domains and domain walls. The directed local chemisorption of diamagnetic subphthalocyaninatoboron molecules in relation to the artificially created domain pattern is proved by a combination of surface analytical methods: ToF-SIMS, X-PEEM, and NEXAFS imaging. Thereby, a new method to influence self-assembly processes and to produce patterned submonolayers is presented.

Aggregation dynamics of molecular bonds between compliant materials

In this paper, we develop a mechanochemical modeling framework in which the spatial-temporal evolution of receptor-ligand bonds takes place at the interface between two compliant media in the presence of an externally applied tensile load. Bond translocation, dissociation and association occur simultaneously, resulting in dynamic aggregation of molecular bonds that is regulated by mechanical factors such as material compliance and applied stress. The results show that bond aggregation is energetically favorable in the out-of-equilibrium process with convoluted time scales from bond diffusion and reaction. Material stiffness is predicted to contribute to adhesion growth and an optimal level of applied stress leads to the maximized size of bond clusters for integrin-based adhesion, consistent with related experimental observations on focal adhesions of cell-matrix interactions. The stress distribution within bond clusters is generally non-uniform and governed by the stress concentration index.

Growing large nanostructured superlattices from a continuum medium by sequential activation of self-assembly

We propose a mechanism to grow a large superlattice of phase domains from a continuum homogenous binary film by sequential activation of self-assembly. Self-assembly was initiated in a small mobile region (where atoms could diffuse) to form a seed pattern, and then the mobile region was shifted gradually. This process led to a long-range ordered superlattice regardless whether the seed was perfect or not, since the pattern quickly improved to a perfect superlattice along with the sequential activation. At a bistable state the scanning velocity controlled the type of superlattice. Further exploration led to an intriguing finding that we call the self-activation of self-assembly, a domino effect where the self-assembly in a small region causes a long-range interaction that destabilizes its homogeneous neighbor and triggers the propagation of self-assembly to the entire system.

Diffusivity control in molecule-on-metal systems using electric fields

The development of methods for controlling the motion and arrangement of molecules adsorbed on a metal surface would provide a powerful tool for the design of molecular electronic devices. Recently, metal phthalocyanines (MPc) have been extensively considered for use in such devices. Here we show that applied electric fields can be used to turn off the diffusivity of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) on Au(111) at fixed temperature, demonstrating a practical and direct method for controlling and potentially patterning FePc layers. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that the diffusivity of FePc on Au(111) is a strong function of temperature and that applied electric fields can be used to retard or enhance molecular diffusion at fixed temperature. Using spin-dependent density-functional calculations, we then explore the origin of this effect, showing that applied fields modify both the molecule-surface binding energies and the molecular diffusion barriers through an interaction with the dipolar Fe-Au adsorption bond. On the basis of these results FePc on Au(111) is a promising candidate system for the development of adaptive molecular device structures.

Modulated self-assembly of 4,4'-diphenyltetrathiafulvalene molecules on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite by n-tetradecane solvent

We report the formation of a binary-component self-assembled monolayer (SAM) comprising 4,4'-diphenyltetrathiafulvalene (DP-TTF) and n-tetradecane (n-C(14)H(30)) molecules with periodic strip-like phase separation structures on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging reveals that ordered DP-TTF single- and double-lamella are periodically tuned by ordered n- C(14)H(30) single- and double-lamella, respectively. This finding can be qualitatively understood in terms of a phase field model, in which the interplay of three ingredients, including free energy of the binary-component solution monolayer, phase boundary energy and surface stress, determines the final equilibrium sizes of the ordered DP-TTF and n- C(14)H(30) phases in the binary-component SAM. Furthermore, anisotropy of the surface stress breaks the symmetry of the substrate and causes the n- C(14)H(30) molecules to arrange along preferential substrate 010 directions. The orientation of the n-C(14)H(30) molecule stripes further guides the directions of the DP-TTF lamellar structures. In addition, scanning tunneling spectra (STS) of the individual DP-TTF and n- C(14)H(30) molecules in the ordered monolayer show a remarkable difference in I(V) curves on the HOPG substrate.

Creating perfectly ordered quantum dot arrays via self-assembly

Several applications involving quantum dots require perfect long-range ordered arrays. Unfortunately, self-assembly (the choice method to fabricate quantum dots) leads to patterns that, although short range ordered, exhibit defects equivalent to grain boundaries and dislocations on a large scale. We note that rotational invariance of film growth is one reason for formation of defects, and hence study an anisotropic model of quantum dot formation. However, nonlinear stability analysis shows that even in the extreme limit of anisotropy, square arrays whose orientations are in a finite range are linearly stable; consequently structures created in the film continue to have defects. Building on insights developed by the authors earlier on a simpler monolayer self-assembly model, we propose controlling the deposition through a mask to generate ordered quantum dots arrays. General principles to estimate geometrical characteristics of the mask are given. Numerical integration of the model shows that perfectly ordered square arrays of quantum dots can indeed be created using masked deposition.

Generation of focused electric field patterns at dielectric surfaces

We here report on a concept for creating well-defined electric field gradients between the boundaries of capillary electrode (a capillary of a nonconducting material equipped with an interior metal electrode) outlets, and dielectric surfaces. By keeping a capillary electrode opening close to a boundary between a conducting solution and a nonconducting medium, a high electric field can be created close to the interface by field focusing effects. By varying the inner and outer diameters of the capillary, the span of electric field strengths and the field gradient obtained can be controlled, and by varying the slit height between the capillary rim and the surface, or the applied current, the average field strength and gradient can be varied. Field focusing effects and generation of electric field patterns were analyzed using finite element method simulations. We experimentally verified the method by electroporation of a fluorescent dye (fluorescein diphosphate) into adherent, monolayered cells (PC-12 and WSS-1) and obtained a pattern of fluorescent cells corresponding to the focused electric field.

Arranging matter by magnetic nanoparticle assemblers

We introduce a method for transporting colloidal particles, large molecules, cells, and other materials across surfaces and for assembling them into highly regular patterns. In this method, nonmagnetic materials are manipulated by a fluid dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles. Manipulation of materials is guided by a program of magnetic information stored in a substrate. Dynamic control over the motion of nonmagnetic particles can be achieved by reprogramming the substrate magnetization on the fly. The unexpectedly large degree of control over particle motion can be used to manipulate large ensembles of particles in parallel, potentially with local control over particle trajectory.