Unraveling the nanostructure of supramolecular assemblies of hydrogen-bonded rosettes on graphite: an atomic force microscopy study.
The self-organization of multicomponent tetrarosette assemblies into ordered nanostructures on graphite surfaces has been studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Real-space information on the level of individual molecules allowed us to analyze the underlying structure in unprecedented detail. In highly ordered nanorod domains, tetrarosettes 1(3) x (DEB)(12) arrange in the form of parallel rows with a spacing of 4.6 +/- 0.1 nm. High resolution AFM revealed the internal packing of the tetrarosette assemblies in these rows, which can be described by an oblique lattice with a = 2.5 +/- 0.3 nm, b = 5.0 +/- 0.1 nm, and gamma = 122 +/- 3 degrees. The results, together with recent improvements in synthetic approaches, contribute to the development of a general strategy to develop H-bonding-based nanostructures with molecular precision.
Schönherr
Holger
H
Department of Materials Science and Technology of Polymers, MESA+ Research Institute and Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Paraschiv
Vasile
V
Zapotoczny
Szczepan
S
Crego-Calama
Mercedes
M
Timmerman
Peter
P
Frank
Curtis W
CW
Vancso
G Julius
GJ
Reinhoudt
David N
DN
D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D036103:Nanotechnology
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D006108:Graphite