Single-Molecule Dynamics in a Self-Assembled 2D Molecular Sieve

Abstract

A two-dimensional molecular sieve has been realized. It consists of a host matrix of molecularly engineered building blocks self-assembled at the liquid-solid interface. The simultaneous size- and shape-dependent dynamics of different guest molecules is observed in situ, in real time with submolecular resolution using a scanning tunneling microscope both at the liquid-solid interface and under vacuum. The temperature-dependent dynamics reveals that the diffusion proceeds through thermally activated channeling between single-molecule surface cavities.

Two-Dimensional Nanotemplates as Surface Cues for the Controlled Assembly of Organic Molecules

“…48A [116,117]. Star shaped stilbenoids are known to self-assemble on graphite leaving empty cavities [118].…”

Alcohol responsive 2D coordination network of 3-(4-pyridyl)benzoate and Zinc(II)

“…This is however very difficult to achieve in 3D structures due to catenation and interpenetration. Thus in recent years, solid state chemists have developed a series of bottom-up fabrication schemes to achieve two-dimensional open coordination networks, frequently with limited domain size, using non covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding [3], metal directed assembly [4], and the organisation of flexible species [5]. Porous materials based on 2D frameworks have received attention owing to useful properties endowed by dynamic guest-responsive phenomena [6].…”

Optical switching studies of an azobenzene rigidly linked to a hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene derivative in solution and at a solid–liquid interface

“…They have been obtained from macrocycles at the interface between an organic solution and the basal plane of graphite, providing pores in the range of 1.2 to 2.7 nm [19][20][21][22][23]. Alternatively, supramolecular two-dimensional structures have been self-assembled at such solid-liquid interfaces, which are stabilized van der Waals interactions between pending alkyl chains [11,[24][25][26][27][28]. Thereby, cavities in the range of a few nanometers up to 5.4 nm have been obtained from identical molecular cores just by varying their side chains [27,28].…”