Coverage‐Controlled Superstructures of C3‐Symmetric Molecules: Honeycomb versus Hexagonal Tiling. (20th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jasper‐Tönnies, Torben; Gruber, Manuel; Ulrich, Sandra; Herges, Rainer; Berndt, Richard
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 132:Number 18(2020)
• Page Start: 7074
• Page End: 7083
• Publication Date: 2020-03-20
• Subjects: Bedeckungsgradkontrolle -- C3-symmetrische Moleküle -- Honigwaben-Superstruktur -- Molekulare Kacheln -- Rastertunnelmikroskopie; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202001383
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: The competition between honeycomb and hexagonal tiling of molecular units can lead to large honeycomb superstructures on surfaces. Such superstructures exhibit pores that may be used as 2D templates for functional guest molecules. Honeycomb superstructures of molecules that comprise a C3 symmetric platform on Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces are presented. The superstructures cover nearly mesoscopic areas with unit cells containing up to 3000 molecules, more than an order of magnitude larger than previously reported. The unit cell size may be controlled by the coverage. A fairly general model was developed to describe the energetics of honeycomb superstructures built from C 3 symmetric units. Based on three parameters that characterize two competing bonding arrangements, the model is consistent with the present experimental data and also reproduces various published results. The model identifies the relevant driving force, mostly related to geometric aspects, of the pattern formation. Abstract : Ästhetik wie im Bienennest : Molekulare Honigwaben‐Superstrukturen wurden mittels Rastertunnelmikroskopie untersucht. Sie erstrecken sich über mesoskopische Bereiche mit Einheitszellen, die bis zu 3000 Moleküle enthalten. Um die Energetik derartiger Strukturen zu beschreiben wurde ein allgemeines Modell entwickelt. Es zeigt, dass die Einheitszellengröße durch den Bedeckungsgrad kontrolliert werden kann.