Nanopatterning by Molecular Self-assembly on Surfaces

Abstract

The ability to pattern surfaces down to the nanoscale is of increasing importance in nanoscience research. The use of supramolecular chemistry to drive the formation of self-assembled networks allows for a bottom-up approach to achieve nanopatterned surfaces. This short review highlights some of the recent breakthroughs in achieving long-range order in such molecular based systems, complemented with examples from our own work. The tuning of molecular architectures can exert control on the emergent properties and function of molecules at interfaces. In particular the formation of porous honeycomb networks allows the rational design of highly ordered patterned surface domains and the investigation of molecular dynamics, chirality and templating effects on surfaces.

Theoretical Modeling of the Surface‐Guided Self‐Assembly of Functional Molecules

“…Another type of nanotemplated surfaces which have been used for the directed 2D self‐assembly of guest molecules are the surfaces obtained by preadsorption of organic modifiers on metallic substrates and graphite. A representative example here are the nanoporous networks which are formed by linear and star‐shaped functional molecules . The nanocavities of these networks, having adjustable size and shape – controlled by the properties of the modifier, provide nanoconfinement for the guest molecules and enforce them to interact/react in a specific pre‐programmed way .…”