Phase behaviour of self-assembled monolayers controlled by tuning physisorbed and chemisorbed states: A lattice-model view

Ordering of monomers, dimers and polymers of deposited Br2I2Py molecules: a modeling study

We propose a lattice model describing the ordering of 1,6-dibromo-3,8-diiodopyrene (Br₂I₂Py) molecules on the Au(111) surface into two-dimensional structures and correlated one dimensional rows. Our model employs three (intact, singly and doubly deiodinated) types of Br₂I₂Py molecules and mimics the situation which occurs with increasing temperature, where the majority of intact molecules form ordered two-dimensional networks, while most of the doubly deiodinated molecules assemble into long organometallic polymeric rows. We use DFT calculations to determine the values of intermolecular interactions for intact molecules and propose a strategy for estimating the interactions for deiodinated molecules, where the organometallic interaction with Au atoms plays the dominant role. Our model is solved using Monte Carlo calculations and allows us to obtain the monomeric structure of intact molecules, the dimeric structure of singly deiodinated molecules and the polymeric row structure of (mostly) doubly deiodinated molecules. We obtain the coexistence of ordered intact Br₂I₂Py molecules and organometallic dimers, as well as their separation at large values of intermolecular interaction with Au. Similar results are obtained by studying mixtures of singly and doubly deiodinated molecules: dimer rows can be either incorporated into the two dimensional pattern of correlated polymeric chains or separated into their own dimeric structures.

From a bistable adsorbate to a switchable interface: tetrachloropyrazine on Pt(111)

Virtually all organic (opto)electronic devices rely on organic/inorganic interfaces with specific properties. These properties are, in turn, inextricably linked to the interface structure. Therefore, a change in structure can introduce a shift in function. If this change is reversible, it would allow constructing a switchable interface. We accomplish this with tetrachloropyrazine on Pt(111), which exhibits a double-well potential with a chemisorbed and a physisorbed minimum. These minima have significantly different adsorption geometries allowing the formation of switchable interface structures. Importantly, these structures facilitate different work function changes and coherent fractions (as would be obtained from X-ray standing wave measurements), which are ideal properties to read out the interface state. We perform surface structure search using a modified version of the SAMPLE approach and account for thermodynamic conditions using ab initio thermodynamics. This allows investigating millions of commensurate as well as higher-order commensurate interface structures. We identify three different classes of structures exhibiting different work function changes and coherent fractions. Using temperature and pressure as handles, we demonstrate the possibility of reversible switching between those different classes, creating a dynamic interface for potential applications in organic electronics.

Exploring self-organization of molecular tether molecules on a gold surface by global structure optimization

We employ nondeterministic global cluster structure optimization, based on the evolutionary algorithms paradigm, to model the self-assembly of complex molecules on a surface. As a real-life application example directly related to many recent experiments, we use this approach for the assembly of triazatriangulene "platform" molecules on the Au(111) surface. Without additional restrictions like spatial discretizations, coarse-graining or precalculated adsorption poses, and despite the proof-of-principle character of this study, we achieve satisfactory qualitative agreement with several experimental observations and can provide answers to questions that experiments on these species had left open so far. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A proposed simulation method for directed self-assembly of nanographene

A methodology for predictive kinetic self-assembly modeling of bottom-up chemical synthesis of nanographene is proposed. The method maintains physical transparency in using a novel array format to efficiently store molecule information and by using array operations to determine reaction possibilities. Within a minimal model approach, the parameter space for the bond activation energies (i.e. molecule functionalization) at fixed reaction temperature and initial molecule concentrations is explored. Directed self-assembly of nanographene from functionalized tetrabenzanthracene and benzene is studied with regions in the activation energy phase-space showing length-to-width ratio tunability. The degree of defects and reaction reproducibility in the simulations is also determined, with the rate of functionalized benzene addition providing additional control of the dimension and quality of the nanographene. Comparison of the reaction energetics to available density functional theory data suggests the synthesis may be experimentally tenable using aryl-halide cross-coupling and noble metal surface-assisted catalysis. With full access to the intermediate reaction network and with dynamic coupling to density functional theory-informed tight-binding simulation, the method is proposed as a computationally efficient means towards detailed simulation-driven design of new nanographene systems.