Tandem Desulfurization/C-C Coupling Reaction of Tetrathienylbenzenes on Cu(111): Synthesis of Pentacene and an Exotic Ladder Polymer

Surface-confined reactions represent a powerful approach for the precise synthesis of low-dimensional organic materials. A complete understanding of the pathways of surface reactions would enable the rational synthesis of a wide range of molecules and polymers. Here, we report different reaction pathways of tetrathienylbenzene (T1TB) and its extended congener tetrakis(dithienyl)benzene (T2TB) on Cu(111), investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Both T1TB and T2TB undergo desulfurization when deposited on Cu(111) at room temperature. Deposition of T1TB at 453 K yields pentacene through desulfurization, hydrogen transfer, and a cascade of intramolecular cyclization. In contrast, for T2TB the intramolecular cyclization stops at anthracene and the following intermolecular C-C coupling produces a conjugated ladder polymer. We show that tandem desulfurization/C-C coupling provides a versatile approach for growing carbon-based nanostructures on metal surfaces.

On-Surface Decarboxylation Coupling Facilitated by Lock-to-Unlock Variation of Molecules upon the Reaction

On-surface synthesis (OSS) involving relatively high energy barriers remains challenging due to a typical dilemma: firm molecular anchor is required to prevent molecular desorption upon the reaction, whereas sufficient lateral mobility is crucial for subsequent coupling and assembly. By locking the molecular precursors on the substrate then unlocking them during the reaction, we present a strategy to address this challenge. High-yield synthesis based on well-defined decarboxylation, intermediate transition, and hexamerization is demonstrated, resulting in an extended and ordered network exclusively composed of the newly synthesized macrocyclic compound. Thanks to the steric hindrance of its maleimide group, we attain a preferential selection of the coupling. This work unlocks a promising path to enrich the reaction types and improve the coupling selectivity hence the structual homogeneity of the final product for OSS.

Modified Engineering of Graphene Nanoribbons Prepared via On-Surface Synthesis

1D graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have a bright future in the fabrication of next-generation nanodevices because of their nontrivial electronic properties and tunable bandgaps. To promote the application of GNRs, preparation strategies of miscellaneous GNRs have to be developed. The GNRs prepared by top-down approaches are accompanied by uncontrolled edges and structures. In order to overcome the difficulties, bottom-up methods are widely used in the growth of various GNRs due to controllability of GNRs' features. Among those bottom-up methods, the on-surface synthesis is a promising approach to prepare GNRs with distinct widths, edge/backbone structures, and so forth. Therefore, modified engineering of the GNRs prepared via on-surface synthesis is of great significance in controllable preparation of GNRs and their potential applications. In the past decade, there have been a lot of reports on controllable preparation of GNRs using on-surface synthesis approach. Herein, the advances of GNRs grown via on-surface growth strategy are described. Several growth parameters, the latest advances in the modification of the GNR structure and width, the GNR doping/co-doping with heteroatoms, a variety of GNR heterojunctions, and the device application of GNRs are reviewed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges are discussed.

Two-Sidedness of Surface Reaction Mediation

A heterogeneous catalytic process involves many surface elementary steps that affect the overall catalytic performance in one way or another. In general, a high-performance heterogeneous catalyst should meet the main criteria: excellent catalytic activity and high selectivity toward target products. Using surface science techniques, the two-sidedness of the surface reaction mediations can be explored, from the perspectives of the surface and the molecule manipulations. The surface manipulation refers to a reaction that is mediated by composition and structure of the substrate as well as surface species, while the molecular manipulation relates to a reaction that is mediated by the reacting molecule via the precursor selection, environmental control, or external excitation. The best catalytic system should consist of the most efficient catalyst and the best suitable reacting molecule, in addition to its economic benefit and environmental amity. Recent research progress in surface reaction mediation is outlined, and its two-sidedness is governed by the Arrhenius equation. This should shed new light on the connection between basic theory and surface reaction mediation strategies. To conclude, challenges and possible opportunities are elaborated for efficient surface reaction mediations.

On-Surface Synthesis of Carbon Nanostructures

Novel carbon nanomaterials have aroused significant interest owing to their prospects in various technological applications. The recently developed on-surface synthesis strategy provides a route toward atomically precise fabrication of nanostructures, which paves the way to functional molecular nanostructures in a controlled fashion. A plethora of low-dimensional nanostructures, challenging to traditional solution chemistry, have been recently fabricated. Within the last few decades, an increasing interest and flourishing studies on the fabrication of novel low-dimensional carbon nanostructures using on-surface synthesis strategies have been witnessed. In particular, carbon materials, including fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene nanoribbons, are synthesized with atomic precision by such bottom-up methods. Herein, starting from the basic concepts and progress made in the field of on-surface synthesis, the recent developments of atomically precise fabrication of low-dimensional carbon nanostructures are reviewed.