Two solvent-induced variable host-guest two-dimensional binary frameworks mediated by hydrogen bonding

Phase Transitions of Naphthalene-2,3-carbonitride Steered by Solvent Effects and Metal Ion Concentration Variation

The delicate regulation of structural phase transition can provide advanced approaches for fabricating desired and well-organized nanoarchitectures on surfaces. Introduction of metal ions into pure organic systems can facilitate the phase transition from hydrogen-bonded structures to metal-organic structures by coordinating with organic molecules. However, it remains a challenge to attain a phase transition dominated by variable metal coordination configurations through adjustment of the metal ion concentration. Herein, we report the phase transitions of naphthalene-2,3-carbonitride (2,3-DCN) molecules on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) under varying solvents and Cu2+ ion concentrations. By integrating data from scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and density functional theory calculations, it is demonstrated that phase transitions of 2,3-DCN occur through forming diverse coordination configurations where Cu2+ ions can coordinate with 2,3-DCN and 1-nonanoic acid or Cl- ions to form different ligand components with a coordination number of 4 when varying the molar ratios of 2,3-DCN to Cu2+ ion in the 1-nonanoic acid solvent. However, in the case of 1-heptanoic acid as a solvent, the self-assembly structure of 2,3-DCN only changes via the alteration of hydrogen bonding sites and Cu2+ ions do not coordinate with 2,3-DCN molecules. These findings provide valuable insights into the coordination behavior of metal ions in different solvents.

Surface supramolecular assemblies tailored by chemical/physical and synergistic stimuli: a scanning tunneling microscopy study

Supramolecular self-assemblies formed by various non-covalent interactions can produce diverse functional networks on solid surfaces. These networks have recently attracted much interest from both fundamental and application points of view. Unlike covalent organic frameworks (COFs), the properties of the assemblies differ from each other depending on the constituent motifs. These various motifs may find diverse applications such as in crystal engineering, surface modification, and molecular electronics. Significantly, these interactions between/among the molecular tectonics are relatively weak and reversible, which makes them responsive to external stimuli. Moreover, for a liquid-solid-interface environment, the dynamic processes are amenable to in situ observation using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the literature, most review articles focus on supramolecular self-assembly interactions. This review summarizes the recent literature in which stimulation sources, including chemical, physical, and their combined stimuli, cooperatively tailor supramolecular assemblies on surfaces. The appropriate design and synthesis of functional molecules that can be integrated on different surfaces permits the use of nanostructured materials and devices for bottom-up nanotechnology. Finally, we discuss synergic effect on materials science.

Mixing behavior of p-terphenyl-3,5,3',5'-tetracarboxylic acid with trimesic acid at the solid-liquid interface

The molecular self-assembly of carboxylic acid molecules on a solid surface plays an important role in understanding the nanoscale-precision construction of functional patterns. In this study, the mixing behavior of p-terphenyl-3,5,3',5'-tetracarboxylic acid (TPTC) and trimesic acid (TMA) on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The STM images show how the presence of a small percentage of TPTC molecules adsorbed onto TMA molecules can drastically change the on-surface self-assembly behavior of aromatic tetracarboxylic acid by initiating the nucleation and growth of a different polymorph. Molecular mechanics and density functional theory simulations of the adsorption energy and the additional stabilizing energy, induced by hydrogen bonds during assembly formations, provide insights into the relative stability of different assembled structures. Moreover, STM-based "nanoshaving" was conducted to confirm that the template layer underneath the second layer is indeed a random network.

Two-dimensional co-crystallization of two carboxylic acid derivatives having dissimilar symmetries at the liquid/solid interface

By the co-assembly of two carboxylic acids with distinct symmetries and different numbers of carboxyl groups, we obtained two novel cocrystal structures at the n-octanoic acid/HOPG interface, one of which was sustained by unoptimized R22(8) hydrogen bonding. Benefiting from the bias-sensitivity of the BTB (1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene) molecule, a structure transition between the cocrystal network and a denser BTB lamella is achieved.