title: Thermodynamics and selectivity of two-dimensional metallo-supramolecular self-assembly resolved at molecular scale.
abstract: We investigated the thermodynamic processes of two-dimensional (2D) metallo-supramolecular self-assembly at molecular resolution using scanning tunneling microscopy and variable-temperature low-energy electron diffraction. On a Au(111) substrate, tripyridyl ligands coordinated with Cu in a twofold Cu-pyridyl binding mode or with Fe in a threefold Fe-pyridyl binding mode, forming a 2D open network structure in each case. The network structures exhibited remarkable thermal stability (600 K for the Cu-coordinated network and 680 K for the Fe-coordinated network). The Fe-pyridyl binding was selected thermodynamically as well as kinetically in self-assembly involving both modes. The selectivity can be effectively suppressed in a specifically designed self-assembly route.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ziliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Pei Nian
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Nian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lin