title: Hierarchically organized bimolecular ladder network exhibiting guided one-dimensional diffusion.
abstract: The assembly and dynamics of a hierarchical, bimolecular network of sexiphenyl dicarbonitrile and N,N'-diphenyl oxalic amide molecules on the Ag(111) surface are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy at controlled temperature. The network formation is governed by a two-step protocol involving hierarchic interactions, including a novel carbonitrile-oxalic amide bonding motif. For temperatures exceeding ~70 K, more weakly bound sexiphenyl dicarbonitrile molecules carry out one-dimensional diffusion guided by the more stable substructure of the network held together by the carbonitrile-oxalic amide bonding motif. A theoretical investigation at the ab initio level confirms the different binding energies of the two coupling motifs and rationalizes the network formation and the diffusion pathway.
authors.affiliation: Physik Department E20, Technische Universität München, James-Franck Strasse, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Younes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makoudi
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arras
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kepčija
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krenner
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klyatskaya
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klappenberger
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruben
authors.forename: Ari Paavo
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Seitsonen
authors.forename: Johannes V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004058:Diffusion; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers