title: Tailored formation of N-doped nanoarchitectures by diffusion-controlled on-surface (cyclo)dehydrogenation of heteroaromatics.
abstract: Surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenation and dehydrogenative polymerization of polycyclic (hetero)aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are among the most important strategies for bottom-up assembly of new nanostructures from their molecular building blocks. Although diverse compounds have been formed in recent years using this methodology, a limited knowledge on the molecular machinery operating at the nanoscale has prevented a rational control of the reaction outcome. We show that the strength of the PAH-substrate interaction rules the competitive reaction pathways (cyclodehydrogenation versus dehydrogenative polymerization). By controlling the diffusion of N-heteroaromatic precursors, the on-surface dehydrogenation can lead to monomolecular triazafullerenes and diazahexabenzocoronenes (N-doped nanographene), to N-doped oligomeric or polymeric networks, or to carbonaceous monolayers. Governing the on-surface dehydrogenation process is a step forward toward the tailored fabrication of molecular 2D nanoarchitectures distinct from graphene and exhibiting new properties of fundamental and technological interest.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid ((ICMM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna Lisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pinardi
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Otero-Irurueta
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.forename: Jose Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Sanchez
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tello
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogero
authors.forename: Albano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossaro
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preobrajenski
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gómez-Lor
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jancarik
authors.forename: Irena G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Stará
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Starý
authors.forename: M Francisca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.forename: Jose Angel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martin-Gago
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004058:Diffusion; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D006859:Hydrogen