Extended one-dimensional supramolecular assembly on a stepped surface.
2,6-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid was adsorbed on a Ag110 surface with an average terrace width of only some tens of a nm. Scanning tunneling microscopy shows that the adsorbates self-assemble into one-dimensional mesoscale length chains. These extend over several hundred nanometers and thus the structure exhibits an unprecedented tolerance to monatomic surface steps. Density functional theory and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy explain the behavior by a strong intermolecular hydrogen bond plus a distinct template-mediated directionality and a high degree of molecular backbone flexibility.
Schnadt
J
J
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Building 1521, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Rauls
E
E
Xu
W
W
Vang
R T
RT
Knudsen
J
J
Laegsgaard
E
E
Li
Z
Z
Hammer
B
B
Besenbacher
F
F