title: Preface: special topic on supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces.
abstract: Supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces is one of the most exciting and active fields in Surface Science today. Applications can take advantage of two key properties: (i) versatile pattern formation over a broad length scale and (ii) tunability of electronic structure and transport properties, as well as frontier orbital alignment. It provides a new frontier for Chemical Physics as it uniquely combines the versatility of Organic Synthesis and the Physics of Interfaces. The Journal of Chemical Physics is pleased to publish this Special Topic Issue, showcasing recent advances and new directions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and the Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California - Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.affiliation: EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory,Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thiel