title: Concentration-Controlled Reversible Phase Transitions in Self-Assembled Monolayers on HOPG Surfaces.
abstract: Rational control of molecular ordering on surfaces and interfaces is vital in supramolecular chemistry and nanoscience. Here, a systematic scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study for controlling the self-assembly behavior of alkoxylated benzene (B-OC(n)) molecules on a HOPG surface is presented. Three different phases have been observed and, of great importance, they can transform to each other by modifying the solute concentration. Further studies, particularly in situ diluting and concentrating experiments, demonstrate that the transitions among the three phases are highly controllable and reversible, and are driven thermodynamically. In addition, it is found that concentration-controlled reversible phase transitions are general for different chain lengths of B-OC(n) molecules. Such controllable and reversible phase transitions may have potential applications in the building of desirable functional organic thin films and provide a new understanding in thermodynamically driven self-assembly of organic molecules on surfaces and interfaces.
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Xueli
authors: X
authors: Shen
authors: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China.
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Wei
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Pengli
authors: P
authors: Tan
authors: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China.
authors: Yingguo
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Biao
authors: B
authors: Yang
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Zhongmiao
authors: Z
authors: Gong
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Haiming
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Haiping
authors: H
authors: Lin
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Youyong
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China.
authors: Yongshu
authors: Y
authors: Xie
authors: Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors: Lifeng
authors: L
authors: Chi
keywords: liquid-solid interfaces; phase transitions; scanning tunneling microscopy; self-assembly