Creating a regular array of metal-complexing molecules on an insulator surface at room temperature

  • Controlling self-assembled nanostructures on bulk insulators at room temperature is crucial towards the fabrication of future molecular devices, e.g., in the field of nanoelectronics, catalysis and sensor applications. However, at temperatures realistic for operation anchoring individual molecules on electrically insulating support surfaces remains a big challenge. Here, we present the formation of an ordered array of single anchored molecules, dimolybdenum tetraacetate, on the (10.4) plane of calcite (CaCO3). Based on our combined study of atomic force microscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations, we show that the molecules neither diffuse nor rotate at room temperature. The strong anchoring is explained by electrostatic interaction of an ideally size-matched molecule. Especially at high coverage, a hard-sphere repulsion of the molecules and the confinement at the calcite surface drives the molecules to form locally ordered arrays, which is conceptually differentControlling self-assembled nanostructures on bulk insulators at room temperature is crucial towards the fabrication of future molecular devices, e.g., in the field of nanoelectronics, catalysis and sensor applications. However, at temperatures realistic for operation anchoring individual molecules on electrically insulating support surfaces remains a big challenge. Here, we present the formation of an ordered array of single anchored molecules, dimolybdenum tetraacetate, on the (10.4) plane of calcite (CaCO3). Based on our combined study of atomic force microscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations, we show that the molecules neither diffuse nor rotate at room temperature. The strong anchoring is explained by electrostatic interaction of an ideally size-matched molecule. Especially at high coverage, a hard-sphere repulsion of the molecules and the confinement at the calcite surface drives the molecules to form locally ordered arrays, which is conceptually different from attractive linkers as used in metal-organic frameworks. Our work demonstrates that tailoring the molecule-surface interaction opens up the possibility for anchoring individual metal-complexing molecules into ordered arrays.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Simon Aeschlimann, Sebastian V. Bauer, Maximilian Vogtland, Benjamin StadtmüllerGND, Martin Aeschlimann, Andrea Floris, Ralf Bechstein, Angelika Kühnle
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1129849
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/112984
ISSN:2041-1723OPAC
Parent Title (English):Nature Communications
Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2020
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2024/05/14
Volume:11
Issue:1
First Page:6424
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20189-x
Institutes:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik / Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik II
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik
Licence (German):CC-BY 4.0: Creative Commons: Namensnennung (mit Print on Demand)